IN THIS ISSUE...
VOLUME 13
JLY/AUG 2024
Welcome to the start of our third year of Around the City! If you’re a first time reader, we’re glad to have you, and if you’re a long time reader we are so thankful to have you. This digital newsletter has grown into one of our largest and most important communication methods and we love putting it together for you! We’ll be working hard to make sure that our third year is our best yet!
In our cover story we’ll be taking a look at Veterans Park. As this park celebrates its 25th anniversary, we’ll share some interesting tidbits about the parks creation, past, and future! And we can’t possibly go any further without saying thank you to Stephen Vick for allowing us to use his breathtaking photo on the cover. If you want to see more gorgeous photography from Stephen, look up Sunsets in North Texas on Facebook or CLICK HERE.
Also in this issue we’ll be talking about the importance of stormwater and the hard working stormwater crew, the beautiful work being done by the Linus Project, and we’ll debut a new recurring feature that was requested by the readers called The Look Back.
You’ll find all of these stories and more as you read on. We hope you enjoy this publication, we’re glad to have you here! And as always, we kick off this volume with City Manager Jeff James and his BIG THREE!
CITY COUNCIL
Mayor: Faron Young
Mayor Pro Tem/Place 3: Amber Munoz
Place 1: Paul Moore
Place 2: Alan Price
Place 4: William Wright
Place 5: Gregg Geesa
CITY MANAGER
JEFFREY J. JAMES
AROUND THE CITY TEAM
Aaron C. Hall Communications Manager
Maureen Barrett Community Services Coordinator
With assistance from the departments and staff of the City of White Settlement
City Manager Jeff James
THE CITY MANAGER’S
B I G T H R E E
I hope that all of you are enjoying your summer but I do want to draw your attention to the fact that we are entering into the months that historically have presented the hottest and driest weather patterns. There are a few things I want to mention about this weather and the first is safety. I’m always thrilled to see so many of you out enjoying the parks and being active, but make sure you are staying properly hydrated and are limiting your activity during the hottest parts of the day. It’s important to always remember that heat related illness is a very real concern during these lengthy Texas summers. These dry months also bring grass and brush fire concerns. Please take all the usual precautions when it comes to dry grass, but also be aware of less common causes of grass fires. Any burning spark can create a destructive grass fire so keep that in mind during your outdoor activities. The final thing to keep in mind is the state of your yard during these months. I understand that some of you like to keep a green yard all year-round, and that’s great. However, you have to consider the cost and regulations when it comes to watering. Water early in the morning or late in the day to avoid losing much of that water to evaporation. This will help you better achieve your lawn goals and limit the amount of water you lose to the heat.
The first phase of the Kimbrough complete street project is moving along at a good pace. This project will see new water, sewer, and road surface installed on what has long been one of our most problematic streets. Public Works is hard at work making sure other streets in the city are being addressed as well this summer as maintenance projects such as overlays and crack sealing and chip sealing are about to be underway. These processes are a cost effective way to extend the life of the road surface. We’re thankful for our community partners such as Tarrant County and TXDOT who assist with some of these processes and help keep the costs down. As I mentioned in the last volume of this publication, road construction costs continue to rise, but the City is doing all we can to address infrastructure issues each and every year.
Something to keep an eye on as we move deeper into the summer is your electric bill. Thankfully we haven’t seen the same sky high temperatures of 2023's summer but you’ve surely already seen an increase in your energy usage this summer. None of us like to receive calls for energy conservation from ERCOT, but if you’re looking to lower your bill a bit there are a few tips and tricks to try. Keeping your house warmer when you’re away can save you from wasting cooling dollars. Making sure you are keeping up with maintenance on your air conditioner can also help. Clogged or dirty filters cause your cooling system to work harder, using more electricity.
25 YEARS OF 25 YEARS OF VETERANS PARK
This July marks the 25th anniversary of the opening of Veterans Park. Visible from interstate 820 and situated along one of the busiest streets in White Settlement, Veterans Park is an important part of the City. For many passersby, this park offers a peak into one of the most important values the City holds; honoring the military community. As the gateway to national defense, White Settlement has strong ties to the military. Early on in its design, Veterans Park was looked at as a prime location that could be used to emphasize and highlight those military connections. This has been done over the years by the memorial plaza in the park as well as the two static military equipment displays.
Another unique aspect of Veterans Park is its heavily used softball complex. Featuring four fields, the softball complex has long been home to softball leagues
and competitions. Fun fact, at the grand opening of the park in 1999, the very first activity held at the park was a softball tournament. Since then, Veterans Park has hosted countless tournaments and leagues, even at times accommodating other sports like soccer and youth football. “As a community we’ve really been blessed with a lot of opportunities and activities at this park,” Community Services Director Rich Tharp said. These activities and uses are important because they draw in not just residents, but those who live outside of White Settlement. Once games and tournaments end, visitors often eat and shop at local businesses, helping the local economy.
On the following pages, we’ll share more fun and interesting facts about Veterans Park along with some great photos taken through the past 25 years!
The plaque at the entrance to the softball complex shows those who were involved in the creation of Veterans Park. Construction on the project began in 1995 and was aided by a $1 million grant from The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The property was mostly empty and some of the land that the park sits on was owned by the White Settlement Independent School District. The WSISD agreed to allow the land to be used for the creation of the park.
Something that most people don’t know is that in the planning stages, the park was going to be named Saddle Hills West. As the plans to honor veterans at the park began to take shape, the name was revisited and ultimately changed to Veterans Park.
A unique view of the softball complex from above. Other features considered for Veterans Park during the planning phase were an inline hockey rink and a championship horseshoe facility.
One of the most important purposes that Veterans Park plays each year is being the site of the annual Memorial Day ceremony. This ceremony gives the community a chance to gather and remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. Each year at this ceremony, we are reminded to cherish the freedoms that so many have died to protect.
We hope that Veterans Park has brought joy to you and your family over the past 25 years and has provided a place for lasting memories to be created. Whether you visit to play sports, to get some exercise on the walking path or at the outdoor fitness court, or to participate in a big event like Summer Celebration or Light the Night, we are thankful to all who continue to make this park a part of their lives. When you visit, please take a moment to remember the purpose of the park, to honor all men and women who served in the armed forces of the United States of America.
You may have never heard about Project Linus but this wonderful organ does great work in our local area have a two-fold mission. First, they handmade blankets to give love, se warmth, and comfort to children in all thanks to their amazing volu And second, they offer a really rew and fun service opportunity individuals and groups in our comm
Their amazing volunteers, lo referred to as "blanketeers," beautiful handmade blankets to children who are seriously ill or through trauma, aged 0 - 18.
The area chapter was able to deliver nearly 4,000 comfort blankets to children
Billie Wright first learned about Project Linus through her church, and she was inspired to bring the project to the White Settlement Senior Center. The wonderful sewing ladies at the Center have been generously donating quilts to Project Linus for the past 2 years. They have contributed over 205 beautiful quilts since January 2024.
“We've got 8 ladies sewing for Project Linus now, just taking our time and helping others as we go. No need to rush to finish projects, we work on our own pace” Billie said. “I'm really excited that we're not only sewing for ourselves, but also for children at hospitals. It's such a rewarding experience.”
Even though they may not see the kids' faces light up when they receive the blankets, Chapter Director MaryAnn kindly sends letters to Billie every now and then. These letters are filled with heartfelt gratitude from the children, thanking them for the wonderful job they do with the blankets.
Knitting and sewing are wonderful ways to tap into your creativity, particularly for seniors. Knitting can also support memory and cognitive functioning. It is a fantastic way for the seniors at the White Settlement Senior Center to stay active and contribute to their community.
Billie mentioned that they are always on the lookout for fabric donations. Many of the ladies currently purchase fabric themselves, so any contributions would be greatly appreciated. Additionally, a lot of the donated fabric they receive is not suitable for kids, so we are specifically seeking kid-friendly donations. If you're interested in making a donation to support the lovely ladies at the Senior Center, feel free to drop by the White Settlement Senior Center anytime from Monday to Friday between 9 am and 1 pm. You can also give us a call at 817-246-6619. We would greatly appreciate your help!
Project Linus happily accepts blankets of all sizes, tailored to the needs of each local chapter. They welcome a variety of blanket styles, from quilts to tied comforters, fleece blankets, crocheted or knitted afghans, and even receiving blankets in fun, kid-friendly colors. Just a friendly reminder that these blankets should be brand new, handmade, washable, pin-free, and come from smoke-free environments to accommodate any allergies. Your kindness and creativity truly make a difference in the lives of these children!
If you have a knack for crafting and want to make blankets for Project Linus, feel free to do so! Once you're done, just reach out to Mary Ann from the local Tarrant County Chapter. She'll make sure your blanket gets to a facility where it can bring joy to a deserving child.
Mary Ann Dew - 817-294-4625
plinusftw@att.net
THE LOOK THE LOOK THE LOOK BACK BACK BACK
Let’s take a look at some of the things happening around White Settlement in recent months!
MEMORIAL DAY
White Settlement is a military community and for many who live here, Memorial Day is very personal. Each year we set aside time on Memorial Day to remember those in the military who gave their lives for our freedom. If you’ve never attended one of these ceremonies, we encourage you to take an hour out of your next Memorial Day morning to join us at Veterans Park.
GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP
You’ve heard us talk a lot about the mission of Keep White Settlement Beautiful and the important role that volunteers play in that mission. On May 11th, volunteers once again showed up and made a difference in helping our local environment. A group of volunteers that included elected officials, firefighters, partner organizations, and residents cleaned up 20 bags worth of litter out of Farmer’s Branch creek. If you want to learn about how you can be a part of the next cleanup event, email kwsb@wstx.us and ask for more information.
WINGS OVER COWTOWN
it was impossible to miss the incredible Blue Angels soaring through the sky over multiple days in April. Bringing an air show back to the area was no small feat and required intense cooperation and planning between the City of White Settlement, Lockheed, NAS JRB Fort Worth, the City of Fort Worth and more. White Settlement departments including Public Works, the Fire Department, and the Police Department played roles in preparing for the event and helping it run smoothly. The air show was a major success and thanks to all of the hard work put into it the door is now open to future air shows in our area!
EROSION CONTROL REPAIR
With a higher than usual amount of rain falling in recent months it became necessary to do repairs in Farmers Branch Creek to save the erosion control wall. Rushing water moving through the creek had begun undermining the integrity of the wall. Workers drained water from the creek and proceeded to install additional riprap erosion control measures to compliment the retaining wall. Riprap is an economical approach that helps preserve the existing wall by providing an armor that helps break up concentrated water flow before it impacts the retaining wall. This work comes just one month after representatives from 10 different organizations including FEMA, NCTCOG, TXDOT, NAS JRB Fort Worth and more spent the day visiting with White Settlement as part of FEMA’s BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) program. This program supports states, local communities, tribes and territories as they undertake hazard mitigation projects, reducing the risks they face from disasters and natural hazards. The visit to White Settlement was to observe and learn about flooding, erosion, and stormwater issues related to Farmers Branch creek. The various experts attending the visit, some of which traveled from as far away as Georgia, are helping the City do an analysis of the needs and will help identify next steps and the best ways forward for the community’s waterways. This will help the City find grant and funding opportunities for eventual projects that will alleviate flooding and erosion concerns for White Settlement and installations and municipalities to the east.
90'S
MOVIES WORTH WATCHING
Each volume, City staff members select a few themed movies that you may not have heard of that we think are worth watching. While all movies suggested are rated PG-13 or below, please be sure to research the movie's content for yourself to ensure it is appropriate for you and your family.
SNEAKERS
1992 - DRAMA/CRIME - PG-13
Featuring an embarrassment of rich acting talent such as Robert Redford, Sidney Poitier, Ben Kingsley, and Dan Akroyd, this slick and charming movie is definitely one worth checking out. The film follows a group of experts who specialize in testing security systems. When they are blackmailed into stealing a mysterious black box, the team finds themselves embroiled in a game of danger and intrigue. This movie straddles many genres and does so better than most ever could. It’s fun, funny, exciting, and absolutely nails the heist/espionage aspects of the story.
MAJOR PAYNE
1995 - COMEDY - PG-13
Damon Wayans has created some ridiculously over the top characters in his career but one that is hard to forget is Major Payne. An over the top, hardcore soldier, Major Payne is discharged from the marines and finds himself as the commanding officer of a local school's JROTC program. Faced with a group of disobedient kids, Payne is forced to learn (through a serious of hilarious mishaps) that his hardnosed approach may not work for this particular group. Part of a “so dumb they’re entertaining” style of 90's comedies, you’ll know within a few minutes if this one is for you or not!
BLAST FROM THE PAST
Brendan Fraser may be in the midst of a career comeback now but in the 90's he was a coveted leading man. Teaming up with Alicia Silverstone (Clueless), in this movie Fraser plays Adam Weber. Thinking a nuclear bomb was being dropped, Adam’s eccentric inventor father locked the family in an underground bomb shelter in the 1960's. 35 years later, a new adult Adam emerges into modern day Los Angeles to search for food and supplies for the family. He doesn’t find the nuclear wasteland he expected, but Los Angeles still has plenty of pitfalls and dangers for a sheltered man like him. The movie has plenty of laughs and a surprising amount of heart.
DROP DEAD FRED
1991 - COMEDY - PG-13
As a child, Elizabeth had a rambunctious, destructive imaginary friend named Drop Dead Fred. Like most kids, she leaves him behind and grows up. Many years later, as her adult life falls apart, she comes back home only to rediscover Drop Dead Fred. And he’s as crazy as ever! Mischief and mayhem break out as Fred makes it hard for Elizabeth to put her life back together. This movie is definitely a product of the era, bursting with rowdy energy and silliness.
MR. DESTINY
1990 - COMEDY/FANTASY - PG-13
Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to go back and change something about our lives? This movie hilariously points out that you should be careful what you wish for! Larry Burrows is unhappy and feels powerless over his life. He believes that his entire life could have turned out differently had he not struck out in a baseball game when he was a kid. One night he meets a mysterious man called Mike, who could change his fate by offering him that alternate life of which he always dreamed. That one change has major ramifications, but Larry finds himself pining for his old life. This type of story has been told before, but few do it better than James Belushi!
We recently had a great chat with the City’s very own Stormwater Crew about their work and how we, as residents, can help out. The first step in helpign out is understanding what stormwater is and why it’s important. The Environmental Protection Agency defines stormwater as EPA as the runoff generated when precipitation from rain and snowmelt events flows over land or impervious surfaces without percolating into the ground. Stormwater runs off rooftops, streets, parking lots, yards, sidewalks and fields, after rain or snow carrying pollutants with it. When it rains, water washes away all kinds of nasty stuff like chemicals, trash and pet waste into the storm drains. On top of these environmental concerns, when stuff like grass clippings, leaves, or other debris gets washed or dumped into our storm sewer inlets, it can cause drainage issues. The Stormwater Crew has to regularly clean out these drains. Clearing bulk items from storm drains is crucial to ensure that stormwater can flow freely and prevent flooding in the city. The Stormwater crew has been hard at work cleaning out these drains recently, sometimes finding strange items (they recently pulled out a dining room table and in 2023 had to fish an entire telephone pole out of the creek). It's a tough job but it's important to keep these drains monitored regularly. And, this is just one of many functions of the Stormwater Crew’s job duties. Richard Bellamy is the Stormwater Crew leader, and he shared some insight about the many duties he and his crew have.
“You can expect to find us mowing creek areas, picking up trash and debris, cleaning drains, and even taking care of unauthorized camp areas,” Richard said. “We also handle illegal dumping, community cleanups, street sweeping, pollutant testing, hazardous waste events and much more”.
Public Works Director, Larry Hoover, shared about what he believes is the most significant challenge for the City of White Settlement in terms of Stormwater management.
“One of the biggest challenges I see is the lack of awareness among citizens when it comes to properly disposing of products like household chemicals, recycling, and grass,” Larry said.
Public awareness has long been hard to achieve when it comes to stormwater but it’s a critical step in achieving a healthier local environment. When residents understand that actions such as using too many fertilizers and pesticides, blowing grass clippings into the street, washing cars at home and letting the soapy water run off into the street, and not fixing fluid leaks in vehicles are all harmful to the stormwater system, they can work to avoid these scenarios.
Ron Taylor, the Superintendent of Stormwater and Streets, shared his thoughts on the importance of the stormwater crew and of the residents. “The Stormwater Crew plays a key role in keeping our city safe and clean by taking care of our assets. They do a lot to look out for our residents,” Ron said.
He went on to speak about resident involvement with the stormwater process. “With the support of our residents, we can work together to create a welcoming and thriving community in White Settlement that will benefit generations to come,” Ron added.
So how can you help? Here are a few tips.
Help pick up litter and debris in your area-Educate yourself on proper chemical disposal - Maintain cars and wash at car washes. - Mulching or bagging grass. - Report any blocked areas or downed trees after a storm. - Get familiar with how stormwater flows on your property. - Install rain barrels to control roof runoff
COMMUNITY SERVICES
TAXFREEWEEKEND
The Texas State Comptroller would like to remind all taxpayers of the upcoming tax-free weekend in which purchases of most clothing, school supplies, footwear, and backpacks under $100 will be exempt from sales tax. This event provides a valuable opportunity to support Texas businesses while saving money on essential items for the upcoming school year. The tax-free weekend will be held from Friday, August 9th to Sunday, August 11th, 2024.
SUMMEROPENGYM
Are you looking for some fun activities to do this summer? Well, look no further! Join us at the Rec Center gym from June 3rd to August 1st, Monday through Thursday, from 1pm to 5pm for our Summer Break Open Gym event.
We welcome everyone to come and play some basketball (don't forget to bring your own ball!). Just a friendly reminder that children under 12 will need to have adult supervision. Best of all, this event is completely free!
To secure your spot, make sure to register online at www.wstx.us/recdesk. We can't wait to see you there for some summer fun!
COMMUNITY SERVICES
LIBRARYSUMMERPROGRAMS
Get excited because the White Settlement Library's 2024 Summer Reading Program is kicking off on June 10th! It's not just for kids - there are programs for people of all ages, so get ready to read and win some awesome prizes.
To sign up, simply head over to wstxreads.readsquared.com or download the READsquared app. And that's not all - the library will be hosting a ton of fun activities all summer long! From Movie Mondays to Storytime Tuesdays, Teen Summer Club Tuesdays, Tinkerlab Thursdays, and Summer Show Fridays, there's something for everyone.
Don't forget to mark your calendar for the Friday Summer Shows at the Library starting at 1 pm. For a complete list of all the exciting Summer shows, check out www.wstx.us/181/Library. Can't wait to see you there!
RAYMONDSPRAY PARK
Make sure to keep Raymond Spray Park in mind this summer. Stay cool and have a blast by swinging by the splash pad for some awesome outdoor water fun! The Raymond Spray Park will be open every day from 11 am to 7 pm. It's only open for a limited time until the end of September so make sure to enjoy it while you can! And don't forget, all you need to do to start the water fun is push the button on the pole. You'll then have 4 minutes of free fresh water playtime to cool off and have a blast!
Calendar of Events
JULY 2ND: CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JULY 4TH: CITY OFFICES CLOSED (INDEPENDENCE DAY)
JULY 5TH: JUNGLE SHOW AT REC CENTER
JULY 12TH: WILDLIFE ON THE MOVE AT REC CENTER
JULY 12TH: SUMMER MOVIE AT REC CENTER
JULY 19TH: DAVID SLICK JUGGLER AT REC CENTER
JULY 20-21ST: COMMUNITY CLEANUP
JULY 26TH: PIRATE ADVENTURE AT REC CENTER
AUGUST 2ND: CREATUR TEACHER AT REC CENTER
AUGUST 6TH: CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AUGUST 12TH: SUMMER MOVIE AT REC CENTER
AUGUST 17TH-18TH : COMMUNITY CLEANUP
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