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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-02 Euless Today2024 *February r F i Dear Citizens, low As we prepare for warmer weather, take note of where f your nearest park is located. Did you know that Euless has over 300 acres of beautiful park land? I hope you can spend some time with your family at one of our FabEuless parks in the near future. Spring is right around the corner, and with that comes the Parks and Community Services spring break camp. Kids ages 7 — 12 can spend the days at the Euless Family Life Center, and enjoy games, arts, crafts, swimming, and more. Residents can take advantage of a discounted rate for the camp as well. Register for just the day, or register for the entire week. Either way, kids will have a blast with these activities and adventures. While our City Staff prepare for spring break camp, it's not too early to mark your calendars for the summer adventure camp. Returning residents for the camp can submit their lottery applications as early as February 1. More information about these camps is available in this edition of Euless Today. THEOFFICIAL T " ` _ '` O' PUBLICATION OF EULESS I Fire Station No. 2 Under Construction The City of Euless has begun construction on Fire Station No. 2. Situated at the southeast corner of West Pipeline Road and Westpark Way, it is replacing Fire Station No. 2, which is over 30 years old and currently located at 1515 Westpark Way. The larger and improved station will allow the Fire Department to maintain a quick response time and excellent service within an area that is experiencing strong residential and commercial growth. The new 19,000-square foot building is two stories tall with a three-story training tower. It also will have four apparatus bays and a state-of-the-art alerting system. The new Fire Station location is about one-half mile north of the current station. "The new location of Station No. 2 will better serve the citizens of Euless by being closer to the bulk of District 2 service calls, which will shave off precious seconds of response time to most calls," said Fire Chief Chanc Bennett. "The station will be fully functional and will even include some training components. The exterior design will complement the neighborhood it is in, and the facility should be ready to serve residents in 2025." Euless Today is published by the City of Euless. 201 N. Ector Dr. • Euless, TX 76039 • 817-685-1400 • eulessinfo@eulesstx.gov Uverse Ch. 99 • Euless Cable Channel 16 Christmas Light Removal The extreme weather in Texas can damage Christmas lights. To protect your home from possible fire and electrical damages, please remove your outdoor Christmas lights as soon as the holidays are over, as required by City code. If you have questions, please contact Code Services at 817-685-1507. Your assistance is greatly appreciated! City of Euless General Election Candidate Filing January 17- February 16, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Euless City Hall 201 N. Ector Drive Filing for a place on the May 4, 2024 City of Euless General Election ballot ends Friday, February 16, at 5 p.m. During the filing period, qualified persons may file as a candidate for Council Place 5 or Council Place 6 of the City Council in the City Secretary's Office on weekdays. A candidate must be a resident of the City for at least one year immediately preceding the date of the election, shall be a registered voter of the City of Euless as of the filing deadline and shall not have been finally convicted of a felony criminal offense. For more information, please call the City Secretary's Office at 817-685-1419 or visit www.eulesstx.gov/ cso. Daddy/Daughter Valentine's Dance Friday, February 2, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Texas Star Conference Center 1400 Texas Star Parkway Calling all dads, uncles and grandpas: This is the event you've been waiting for. Grab your favorite little lady and get ready for a night you'll both remember forever. Enjoy a night of dancing, refreshments, goody bags, photos, and fun. Create memories that will last a lifetime for you and the most important girl in your life. All ages are welcome. This event sells out quickly, so please get your tickets early. Tickets are $15 per person and are available at recreation.eulesstx.gov or at the Euless Family Life Center. For additional information, please call 817- 685-1814. Valentine's Day Dinner Wednesday, February 14, 5 - 8:30 p.m. Raven's Grille 1400 Texas Star Parkway Treat your sweetheart to a romantic night out at Raven's Grille inside the Texas Star Golf Course. The restaurant is offering three or four -course dinner options with wine and champagne specially chosen to complement the delicious entrees and desserts. You may choose from these menu selections, or select your meal a -la -carte with your choice of a scrumptious appetizer and salad, a mouthwatering entree, and a decadent dessert. Dinner is by reservation only, so make yours soon for a very special Valentine's Day at Raven's Grille. Call 817-685-1847 to secure your spot. Citizen's Police Academy Classes Begin February 15 Enroll today in the Euless Citizen's Police Academy (CPA). This 12-week course will cover all aspects of the Police Department and will be held in the Library Training Room every Thursday night from February 15 through May 9, from 7 to 10 p.m. The minimum age for enrollment is 18 and you must live or work in the City of Euless to be eligible to attend. There is no cost to participate, and all instructional materials are provided. Applications are available on the City website. To enroll or to get more information, please call 817-685-1536. Why Does a Portion of Fort Worth have a Euless Zip Code? Just south of Euless, there is a small section of the City of Fort Worth that the United States Post Office assigned to the 76040 zip code. Although the cities share a zip code, city limit lines officially designate where you live. Residents of Fort Worth are welcome to utilize the Euless Public Library and Recreation Center; however, they will be required to pay the non-resident fee. One way to verify residency is to take a look at your water bill. Your water bill indicates the city in which you reside. To view the City limit lines, visit the City website, click on the map icon, and select City Limit Line Index. DIES Edible Books Contest February 23 - 24, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Mary Lib Saleh Euless Public Library 201 N. Ector Drive Show off your culinary, artistic, and literary skills by entering the Edible Books Contest. This edible art exhibition will feature entries made of food and inspired by a book, such as a book title, characters, the actual shape of the book, etc. Your entry should relate to books or literature and be as simple or as elaborate as you like. Just make sure that all of the items used to make your entry are edible. The contest will have different categories that are judged by various members of the City, Staff, and Library Board. Drop off your masterpiece at the library on Friday, February 23, before 3:00 p.m. for judging. Public judging will be on Saturday, February 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. To get a copy of the rules or for more information, call 817-685-1480. Summer Camp Lottery Registration It's time to start planning for Summer Camp! Euless Parks & Community Services has a three -step registration process. First, submit your application to enroll in the lottery system. Next, a staff member will notify you by email to confirm your enrollment. Finally, for each week of camp, you will pay a $10 deposit, which will be due before summer camp starts. Application Submission Dates: • Returning Residents: February 1 - 29 • New Residents: March 1 - 31 • Returning Non -Residents: April 1 — 30 • Open Enrollment for those who missed deadlines: May 7 We want all children to have fun this summer, and we look forward to the memories we will make in Summer Adventure Camp/Summer Teen Camp. Information, registration forms, and the parent handbook may be found on the Parks & Community Services page at www.eulesstx.gov or by calling 817-685-1666. Winter Weather Preparedness As you probably are aware, North Texas has endured some costly and impressive winter storms over the years, many of which occur in February. However, do you know the roles that City employees play in the event of winter weather emergencies? The Office of Emergency Management is responsible for disaster planning for the City of Euless. It identifies potential hazards in different scenarios and then it creates emergency management plans to match those situations. Those plans serve as a guide for the City on how to respond to disasters, such as Arctic temperatures, homes without power or impassable road conditions. Of course, emergency responders are always on alert, especially when a winter storm hits. Police officers and firefighters are the first to arrive on the scene to help accident victims or stranded motorists when roads freeze or become dangerous. Among other things, the Euless Police Department assists with vehicle accidents, helps stranded motorists, reports on road conditions and closes unsafe roads. In the event of an emergency, dial 911. The non -emergency Police number is 817-685-1526. The Euless Fire Department provides fire, emergency medical, and specialized rescue services. The department responds to various incidents such as vehicle accidents, medical emergencies, and is available to assist other City departments on any community -related emergency. The Euless Public Works department, which consists of Water, Streets, Traffic, and Wastewater divisions, coordinates with TxDot to ensure all major City thoroughfares and intersections are continuously monitored and sanded as needed. The crews are available for water main breaks, repairs, water meter turn off's, and removing fallen trees or branches from blocking the roadways. In the event of frozen or broken pipes, City crews are available around -the -clock to respond to a water turn off request preventing further damage. For assistance Monday — Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., residents may call 817- 685-1580. For after-hours or weekends, please call the non -emergency line 817-685-1526. The Parks and Community Services Department helps to sand City facilities during winter weather. When people lose power to their homes, it may also provide a warm place to stay, where people can have a snack, take a shower and charge their devices. Lastly, the Communications and Marketing Department keeps citizens informed through posts on the City's website and social media sites, such as Nextdoor, X, and Facebook. The department provides information regarding City office closures, delayed trash pick-up, the opening of warming stations, and other helpful information. Ray McDonald Joins Euless' Walk of Champions Ray McDonald, recently retired Parks and Communities Services Director, has been Inducted into Euless' Walk of Champions. The Walk of Champions honors individuals like Ray, who are committed to serving the youth in Euless through volunteer service and leadership. The Walk of Champions is located in the Parks at Texas Star between Wrigley and Arlington fields. Metal plaques featuring the names of Walk of Champions inductees are scattered throughout the area. Ray's plaque reads in part, "Dedicated in honor of his 34 years of service enriching the City's parks, athletic facilities and recreational programs." It is a mark of distinction to be included in the Walk of Champions; all of the individuals there have made a significant contribution towards recreation in Euless. When he was 19, Ray McDonald began his career with the City of Euless in June 1988. He was a seasonal part-time Parks maintenance employee working summers and school breaks while attending the University of North Texas. In 1992, he became a part-time Building Attendant at the Recreation Center. After he graduated from UNT in 1994 with a Bachelor of Applied Sciences Degree in Communications and a Minor in Recreation Administration, Ray was hired full- time as a Leisure Services Programmer II. He progressed through many positions thereafter, including being elevated to the role of Assistant Director of Parks and Community Services in July 2002. He was then promoted in April 2003 to his most recent position as Director of Parks and Community Services. Under Ray's vision and leadership, Euless' parks and recreation has been a shining star for our community and the region. The prestigious Parks at Texas Star has undergone substantial renovation and expansion providing world -class athletic fields. The Euless Family Life Center has been renovated and expanded with the addition of the new Senior Center, Natatorium and outdoor water park. A Splash Pad has been added to South Euless Park, a dog park has been constructed at the Villages of Bear Creek and J.A. Carr Park has received a complete renovation that includes new trails, fitness stations and playground amenities. The City's trail network has been greatly expanded, including additional parking, trail lighting and fitness stations, providing users seamless connectivity through the City. Under Ray's leadership, the Parks Department has hosted many events, including the annual Christmas Parade of Lights and the annual Arbor Daze Festival. Euless has continued to maintain its long-standing "Tree City USA" recognition for its continuous environmental awareness efforts and forestry growth and achievements. Ray had a passion for providing recreational opportunities to citizens of all ages ranging from Youth Summer Camps to Senior Citizen activities and trips. Ray was a dedicated and committed servant to the citizens of Euless by giving his time, energy, and talents throughout the years for the betterment of the community.