Garland City Press - Nov/Dec 2020

HEALTH WISE

GARLAND TESTS MODEL FOR MASS VACCINATIONS NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2020 | VOLUME 28, ISSUE 6 | GarlandTX.gov

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Audubon Recreation Center is currently undergoing construction on scheduled improvements, with funds issued in the Garland Bond Program. These improvements include a new fitness room, expansion of the multipurpose room, and supplemental renovations to the existing facility. This will allow for an improved interior layout, larger capacity and new entryway enhancements in order to better serve the residents of Garland.

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BOND UPDATE Garland’s Future Is Taking Shape

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Lake Ray Hubbard

Playgrounds

Through the 2019 Bond Program, the City will install new playground equipment at 24 locations. The first set of nine playgrounds are expected to start construction in early 2021. All 24 are expected to be complete by the end of 2022.

Garland Police Property and Evidence Building

A new facility will improve the property and evidence logistics for the Garland Police Department. The facility will allow the Garland Police Department to meet new storage and handling standards, increase the efficiency of information processing, and accommodate for the growth of digital evidence storage. This project will take place on a new site at 2309 Forest Lane with construction anticipated to begin in early 2021.

1. Spring Creek Greenbelt - Fred E. Harris Section, 6006 N. Shiloh Road 2. Harold R. Bisby Park, 3114 Pinewood Drive 3. Winters Softball Complex, 1330 Spring Creek Drive 4. Peavy Park, 1510 Warwick St. 5. Lottie Watson Park, 3910 Lawler Road 6. Alamo Park, 1906 Santa Anna Drive 7. John J. Cullom Park, 1310 Travis St. 8. Bob Hall Park, 1301 Rivercrest Lane 9. Montgomery Park, 2905 Edgewood Drive 10. Woodland Park, 815 W. Walnut St. 11. Lou Huff Park, 515 E. Avenue B 12. Douglas Park, 420 Carver Drive

For more information on these projects, visit BuildGarland.com.

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Garland City Press November-December 2020

13. Tinsley Park, 2617 Anita Drive 14. Lon L. Wynne Park, 3858 S. Glenbrook Drive 15. Meadowcreek Branch Park, 353 Brookview Drive 16. Duck Creek Greenbelt, 4059 Duck Creek Drive 17. Betsy Ross Park, 1818 Wynn Joyce Road 18. Independence Park, 201 Georgetown Drive 19. Armstrong Park, 1126 Birchwood Drive 20. Dorfman Park, 701 Spring Lake Drive 21. Grissom Park, 1130 Sleepy Hollow Drive 22. Edward White Park, 1117 Ravencroft Drive 23. M.G. (Jerry) Carter Sr. Softball Complex, 342 W. Oates Road 24. Oaks Branch Park, 5815 Robinglen Lane

SPOTLIGHT ON GARLAND Regardless of who conducts the quality-of-life study or the factors that are incorporated, Garland continues to come up high on the list.

According to the personal finance resource GOBankingRates, Garland is one of the few major cities in the country, and one of only two in North Texas, where a person can live comfortably for less than $50,000 per year.

Only 35 of the nation’s 270 largest cities met the criteria, with Garland singled out specifically as one of the best cities to consider for retirement. Arlington, El Paso and San Antonio were the other Texas cities on the list. The cost of rent, groceries, utilities, transportation and health care were factors considered in the study.

Garland is ranked No. 1 in Texas and No. 8 in the country on a recently released 2020 list of Best Cities for First-Time Homebuyers. The study from personal finance website SmartAsset compared 185 cities using 12 metrics, including five-year home value appreciation, effective property tax rate, average commute time and violent crime rate.

Garland ranks No. 5 among the nation’s 150 largest cities when it comes to Best Cities for Remote Workers, according to a study on the LawnStarter.com blog. The study considered factors such as remote job opportunities, internet speed and the cost of a home office.

Within the study, Garland fared 12th best in the costs category, which factored cost-of-living index, housing, utilities, internet and income tax. Garland had also placed ninth overall in a LawnStarter “community safety rank.”

Garland also ranked 23rd among the 100 most populous cities in personal finance website WalletHub’s list of Best Cities to Drive In. Average gas prices, time spent in congested traffic and available auto repair shops were among criteria used in the study. Among North Texas cities, only Plano fared better in the ranking.

Parks are “Garland’s shining category,” according to the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate HomeCity website, which includes the city on its list of The Best Places to Live in Texas. The article cites the Trust for Public Land’s annual park rating, where Garland placed eighth in the state and 83rd in the nation.

Inside this Issue Feature

FLU VACCINE Pages

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Note About 2021 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Calendar

City Council

City Services

City Council Meeting Schedule

Fire Department Blood Drive

CGTV Listings

GP&L Outage Testing

Election Day Voting

Flu Season

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City News

Quality of Life

Census Response Rates

You can still enjoy the calendar, learn about how to reduce, reuse and recycle, and find out your collection schedule. Visit the News section at GarlandEWS.com after Jan. 1 to download a copy of the 2021 “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” calendar.

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Annual Operating Budget We've gone digital! Reduction and reuse are the most important ways we can all lessen our environmental impact and extend the life of our landfill. For these reasons and more, we are no longer including printed copies of the "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" calendar in the Garland City Press.

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Recreation Center Events

NATOA Awards

Library Programming Remains Online

STAR Awards

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Events from the Arts

Neighborhoods & Development

What's Being Built There 2020 Neighborhood Summit Virtual Home Maintenance Classes

On the Web

On Social Media

GarlandTX.gov Email

Note: As Garland venues reopen from the COVID-19 pandemic, check GarlandTX.gov for arts, library, parks and other program listings.

@GarlandTXGOV

Garland@GarlandTX.gov

City of Garland, Texas Government #MYMGarland #GarlandTX

November-December 2020 Garland City Press

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District 3 Town Hall

CITY COUNCIL SCHEDULE

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District 4

B.J. Williams Jim Bookhout

District 5

Rich Aubin (U)

District

» Meetings are broadcast at GarlandTX.gov via live streaming and on-demand, and on CGTV with several rebroadcasts during the week of the meeting.

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Jim Bookhout 214-823-5846 (no texts please) Council4@GarlandTX.gov

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Jerry Nickerson 972-205-2292 Council3@GarlandTX.gov

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Deborah Morris 214-273-4387 Council2@GarlandTX.gov

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Rich Aubin 972-325-2529 Council5@GarlandTX.gov

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Robert Vera Deputy Mayor Pro Tem 469-782-4482 Council6@GarlandTX.gov

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Garland City Press November-December 2020

Mayor

» Meeting dates and times subject to change.

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DISTRICT 1 NOTE: David Gibbons resigned from his post as District 1 Council Member to accept the position of executive director of the Garland Housing Finance Corporation. The Garland City Council is requesting permission from the governor to call a special election to fill the vacancy.

City Council Members

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However, a Garland resident may vote anywhere in Dallas County. Visit DallasCountyVotes.org for a full list of polling locations. Voters may also deliver a marked ballot in person to the early voting clerk’s office, 1520 Round Table Drive in Dallas.

Proper identification is required to vote.

– 7 p.m. Nov. 9, Nov. 23 and Dec. 14 • Meetings Nov. 23 meeting will be rebroadcast the following • The Tuesday, Thursday and Friday – 9 a.m.

Scott LeMay 972-205-2400 214-794-8904 Mayor@GarlandTX.gov

Voters citywide will decide the park proposal.

Per the Charter, City Council members are elected by residents of their districts.

Thirty-eight Vote Centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, in Garland. They include the following City facilities: • Bradfield Recreation Center 1146 Castle Drive • Granger Recreation Center 1310 W. Avenue F • The Atrium at the Granville Arts Center 300 N. Fifth St. • North Garland Branch Library 3845 N. Garland Ave. • South Garland Branch Library 4845 Broadway Blvd.

Plan Commission

COUNTRY CLUB

Deborah Morris Koni Ramos-Kaiwi

broadcast – 7 p.m. Nov. 10, Nov. 17, Dec. 1 and Dec. 15 • Live Rebroadcast following Wednesday – 9 a.m., • Friday – 7 p.m.,theSaturday and Sunday – 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.

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City Council Regular Meetings

City Council

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David Gibbons (U)

Channel 16 (Spectrum), Channel 44 (Frontier) or Channel 99 (AT&T U-verse), GarlandTX.tv

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District 1

CGTV Listings

broadcast – 6 p.m. Nov. 9, Nov. 16, Nov. 30 and • Live Dec. 14 the following Tuesday, Thursday • Rebroadcast and Friday – 9 a.m., Wednesday and Thursday – 7 p.m.

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Candidates in the City election are (U indicates unopposed):

City Council Work Sessions

Email Council3@GarlandTX.gov or call 713-702-3545 for more information.

SAM HOUSTON

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. In addition to federal, state, county and school district items, Garland ballots include City Council races and a proposal to utilize park land adjacent to Hollabaugh Recreation Center, 3925 W. Walnut St., as the site for the relocation of the Walnut Creek Branch Library.

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ELECTION DAY VOTING

7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19 The Atrium at the Granville Arts Center, 300 N. Fifth St. Join District 3 City Council Member Jerry Nickerson for a town hall discussion. Topics will include a community update from the Garland Police Department, the My Possibilities development, an update on local street projects plus the work on Interstates 30 and 635, and an update on parks and other projects from the May 2019 Bond Program.

Keep up with the latest public meetings.

3 Dylan Hedrick 469-560-6099 Council7@GarlandTX.gov

Receive public meeting agendas in your inbox.

1

Visit GarlandTX.gov.

2 Click on the "Public Meeting Agendas" link.

3 Click on the blue "Subscribe" button.

4 Select the agendas you want to receive.

Robert John Smith Mayor Pro Tem 469-223-4723 Council8@GarlandTX.gov

City News

FY 2020-21

Annual Operating Budget The budget is balanced as required by state law and reflects City Council's policy framework.

In accordance with the priorities expressed by the City Council, the FY 2020-21 Adopted Budget increases street program funding to $29.1 million, addresses the need for additional 911 dispatchers, and continues the Home Improvement Incentive Program.

This year's budget strikes a balance between affordability and the need to fund the City's top priorities as defined by City Council with no increase to the tax rate. The budget is also reflective of the tax relief provided by the City Council in the form of a 2% increase to the Homestead Exemption and a $5,000 increase to the senior exemption for homeowners.

Budget Priorities for the FY 2020-21 Adopted Budget

• Maintain current City service levels.

• Provide the resources needed to maintain implementation of the 2019 Bond Program.

• Address the need for additional 911 dispatchers.

• Maintain a high level of excess reserves for future needs.

General Fund: Where It Comes From and What It’s Used For

General Fund $185.0 million The services paid from the General Fund Include basic City services such as police, fire, parks, library, transportation, health, animal care and code enforcement.

Intragovernmental Transfers 24.7%

Sales Tax 15.6% Property Tax 35.2%

Total Consolidated Budget (All Funds) $773.8 Million

Public Safety 54.3%

Non-Departmental 4.6% Other Revenue 24.5% Library 3.3% Parks, Rec. & Cultural Arts 6.0%

Support Services 9.4% General Government 8.1%

Public Works 10.8%

Neighborhoods & Development 3.5%

Utility Funds $476.9 million The City of Garland’s utility departments are comprised of Garland Power & Light, Water and Wastewater Utilities, Stormwater Management and Environmental Waste Services.

Combined Funds $773.8 million The Combined Budget includes the General Fund, Debt Service Fund, Special Revenue Funds, Enterprise Funds and Grant Funds.

Monthly Utility Cost for a Typical Garland Resident Utility Services

Electric Utility

2019-20 Monthly Rate

2020-21 Adopted Rate

Monthly Dollar Change

Description

$130.29

$130.29

None

Based on 1,300 kWh per month

$63.31

$63.31

None

Based on an average of 7,500 gallons per month

Wastewater Service

$42.48

$42.48

None

Based on an average of 7,500 gallons per month

Trash Collection

$20.58

$20.58

None

Residential customer using 96-gallon cart

Stormwater Fee

$3.59

$3.59

None

Mid-sized residential lot

$260.25

$260.25

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Water Utility

Total Monthly Rate

To learn more about the FY 2020-21 Annual Operating Budget, visit GarlandTX.gov.

Recovery Resources

If you’ve been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the deadline to apply for federal aid in programs administered through the City of Garland is fast approaching.

Applications for residential aid, for both renters and homeowners, are due Friday, Nov. 13. The City continues to partner with Catholic Charities of Dallas Inc. to screen and process the applications. Visit GarlandTX.gov to find out more about the program, to apply online or to learn about other recovery resources available to Garland residents.

Applications for the most recent round of Business Assistance Program funding are also due Nov. 13. The current program is open to businesses with 75 employees or less and annual gross revenues of $7.5 million or less. The business must be located in Garland and demonstrate a 20% loss of revenue because of the pandemic.

The maximum award in the business program will be $50,000.

To be eligible, businesses cannot have received more than $50,000 of Paycheck Protection Program assistance, Dallas County Small Business grants or loans, or any other Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act forgivable loans or grants.

To apply, visit GarlandTX.gov.

Garland Among Leaders in Census 2020 Self-Response Rates Garland recorded the second-best Census 2020 self-response rate among large cities in Texas.

About 70% of Garland’s residents completed the task of self-responding before the Sept. 30 deadline. That was better than the state rate, the Dallas County rate and better than the county’s other large cities: Dallas, Grand Prairie and Irving.

The U.S. Constitution requires a census to count residents every 10 years. The count dictates where federal program funding of about $675 billion per year is spent. It also determines Garland’s representation in state and federal government.

The federal government assigns local census participation to Complete Count Committees. In Garland, the responsibility was designated to the Community Multicultural Commission (CMC).

The CMC drove educational and outreach efforts in the city, including Community Conversation events, weekly outreach through social media and videos in multiple languages.

November-December 2020 Garland City Press

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City News

ON THE COVER Mass Vaccination Format Tested at Flu Shot Event

The Garland Health Department staged its annual employee flu vaccination event as a drive-thru on Oct. 8, testing the format in hopes it could be used to serve the general public in the near future.

“We’re anticipating a mass COVID vaccination event when that vaccine becomes available,” said Garland Health Director Jason Chessher. “The idea was to do the employee flu event as a test run and that way work out the kinks ahead of time.”

Health and emergency management personnel from other cities were on hand at the Granville Arts Center to take notes as well.

The City and the Garland Independent School District have worked out an agreement to stage a larger COVID vaccination event at Homer B. Johnson Stadium when the vaccine becomes available. The stadium was selected in part for its entrances off two main roads and large parking lot.

DART GoLink

Dallas Area Rapid Transit has extended its GoLink approach to service to an area of Garland.

The area of farthest south and east Garland between Wynn Joyce Road, Broadway Boulevard, the southern city limit and Lake Ray Hubbard will use GoLink for local trips or to connect to the Lake Ray Hubbard Transit Center.

GoLink is a personalized, curb-to-curb on-demand service, available Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Riders can book and pay for trips with DART’s GoPass app or by calling 214-515-7272. Reservations are required but must be made the same day as the trip. Phone reservations can be made as early as 4:30 a.m.

To learn more, visit DART.org/GoLink or call 214-515-7272.

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Garland City Press November-December 2020

Garland Achieves National Awards for Video Excellence The City of Garland continues to earn national recognition for excellence in video production and programming. Garland’s Public & Media Relations team earned three firstplace trophies at the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors 2020 programming awards, announced Sept. 3.

In the Event/Program Promotion category, the “Do You Like the Arts?” promo brought the Granville Arts Center’s “Vision of the Arts” sculpture to life to promote great arts offerings in Garland.

In the Public Service Announcement category, the team found a fun, imaginative way in “Can’t Flush This” to remind residents that toilet paper substitutes are bad for their plumbing and the city’s sewer system.

In the Military category, the team recapped the impactful, emotional visit of a traveling Vietnam War memorial in “A Look Back at The Wall That Heals.”

Congratulations to Dan Bach, Nick Gibson, Pedro Hernandez and the rest of the team, and to the City departments that participated in these award-winning productions. A full list of awards is as follows: Award of Excellence Event/Program Promotion – “Do You Like the Arts?”

Public Service Announcement – “Can’t Flush This” Military – “A Look Back at The Wall That Heals” Award of Distinction Children/Young Adults – “Be Smart, Be Seen, Be Safe” Event/Program Promotion – “The Wall That Heals” Profile of a City/County Dept. or Employee – “Garland Fire Department” Use of Humor – “Can’t Flush This” Public Education – “Know What to Throw” Award of Honor Overall Excellence

GARLAND WINS TWO ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP AWARDS

Garland’s Environmental Waste Services Department has won regional and state awards for a clothing and electronics recycling drive it held in recognition of America Recycles Day. In a virtual awards ceremony in September, Garland won first place for an Extraordinary Recycling Special Event from the State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (STAR). Garland picked up an honorable mention from the North Texas STAR chapter in August.

The two environmental leadership awards recognize true stewards of the environment. The awards celebrate individuals, communities, organizations and businesses that are developing and maintaining programs involving recycling, composting, sustainable materials management, public education and outreach, and special events.

Garland earned back-to-back state titles in Extraordinary Recycling Special Events. Last year, Go Green Garland was recognized for its Earth Day event.

WHAT’S

Garland is buzzing with new development.

BEING BUILT THERE?

Taking It to the Streets Projects scheduled to begin in November/December

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A building permit has been issued at a former Sears site, 2775 W. Miller Road. The building was damaged during a 2019 tornado. The building will be used for warehouse distribution.

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Under construction east of Lavon Drive, between Foster Road and Crist Road, is Hidden Oaks, a single-family residential development consisting of approximately 67 homes.

A Avon Drive, Full cul-de-sac off Stratford Drive Street reconstruction

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A car wash is under construction at 2620 Arapaho Road.

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Roan Road, Interstate 30 service road to Waterhouse Boulevard Concrete street repair

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Valley Creek Subdivision, several streets Concrete street repair

Ongoing projects

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Carroll Drive, Lamesa Drive to Saturn Road Street reconstruction

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Cranford Drive, Cortez Drive to Saturn Road Street reconstruction Curtis Drive, Davidson Drive to Susan Drive

F Street reconstruction 3

G Elderberry Drive/Lemon Tree Lane alley, Elderberry to 2

Zion Road Alley reconstruction

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Middle Glen Drive, Avalon Drive to Villa Ridge Drive Street reconstruction

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Monterrey Drive, Goliad Drive to Sam Houston Drive Concrete street repair

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Old Mill Run, Buckingham Road to Melrose Street Concrete street repair

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Travis Street, North Garland Avenue to Larchfield Drive Concrete street repair

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Meandering Way/Wilmington Drive alley, Holland Drive to Pyramid Drive Alley reconstruction

G B Texas Department of Transportation Projects Details on page 8.

November-December 2020 Garland City Press

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Neighborhoods & Development

2020 Neighborhood Summit: Neighborhood Values, Home Values 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 • Virtual Conference FREE – REGISTRATION REQUIRED What a wild year this has been! Now, more than ever, it is important to invest in your home socially and aesthetically. Register now to join our first virtual Neighborhood Summit, “Neighborhood Values, Home Values.”

Texas Department of Transportation Projects

Learn how you can love where you live, today! Topics will include establishing your neighborhood values, building a neighborhood network, preserving or increasing your home value, and do-it-yourself home improvement tips from the experts. Residents from Garland, Plano, Rowlett and surrounding communities are welcome to join us.

Schedule (subject to change): 8:30 a.m. Registration Opens 9 a.m.

Welcome and Introductions 9:15 a.m.

Keynote Session 10:15 a.m. Session 1 – Building a Neighborhood Network 11 a.m.

Session 2 - Neighborhood Leader Panel 11:45 a.m. Session 3 – D.I.Y. Home Improvement Tips

from the Experts

Keynote speaker Peter Kageyama is the author of "For the Love of Cities: The Love Affair Between People and Their Places", the follow-up, "Love Where You Live: Creating Emotionally Engaging Places" and the latest, "The Emotional Infrastructure of Places."

Kageyama is a Senior Fellow with the Alliance for Innovation, a national network of city leaders, and a special advisor to America in Bloom.

He is the former president of Creative Tampa Bay, a grassroots community change organization. He also co-founded the Creative Cities Summit, an interdisciplinary conference that brings residents and practitioners together around the big idea of “the city.”

Learn more and register at GarlandNeighborhoods.org.

Virtual Home Maintenance Classes

Work Continues on 635 East

Join our upcoming virtual Home Maintenance Classes, taught in partnership with the Garland Parks & Recreation Department. Classes are free, but registration is required.

Learn more and register at GarlandNeighborhoods.org.

Construction on new connectors between Interstates 635 and 30 is becoming more evident as the $1.7 billion 635 East project progresses into 2021.

The project’s 11 miles along I-635 include Garland’s busiest traffic corridor and the interchange at I-30.

Drilled shafts and box culverts continue to be installed near the interchange. Lane shifts and lane reductions along frontage roads will be in place as utility work, drainage construction and roadway work are performed in various sections of the project.

The beginnings of a new I-30 overpass at nearby Galloway Avenue will also be evident in coming months.

So will a temporary overpass on the west side of the existing Skillman Street crossing of I-635 in Dallas.

Visit 635east.com for information about the project. Visit GarlandTX.gov/Garland635Info for information specific to Garland.

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Garland City Press November-December 2020

Pre-Summit Mixer Join us for the Pre-Summit Mixer and get geared up for the Neighborhood Summit. This virtual mixer will also announce the winners of the annual Garland Neighborhood Awards.

You won’t want to miss it! Register now at GarlandNeighborhoods.org.

PRE-SUMMIT MIXER 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5 Virtual Event FREE – REGISTRATION REQUIRED

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FENCE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR Noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17

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HOME MAINTENANCE – WINTERIZATION Noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19

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Fats, Oils and Grease, Oh My!

City Services

They give the Thanksgiving meal that savory, delicious, mouthwatering taste.

But beware: Fats, oils and grease should never make their way into the kitchen (or any other) drain in your house.

Fats, oils and grease quickly harden in your pipes or the city sewer lines. They can cause a sewer backup either in your home or neighborhood. Contrary to popular belief, even hot, soapy water won’t move these substances very far before they start to solidify.

GP&L Adds Status Update Feature to Outage Texting

Fats, oils and grease come from meats, butter, lard, food scraps, sauces (yes, even gravy), dressings, dairy products and cooking oil.

Don’t let your Thanksgiving feast turn into an expensive plumbing nightmare.

Recycle all of your kitchen fats, oils and grease using Garland’s free drop-off Grease Recycling Program.

The collected cooking oil and grease will be recycled into biodiesel or biogas, which reduces landfill waste and produces an alternative fuel that is clean and green. Visit GarlandWater.com or call 972-205-3210 for details. It’s so easy!

The 2020 Holiday Grease Roundup will take place from Monday, Nov. 23, to Monday, Jan. 4. But for Garland residents, it’s a year-round recycling opportunity.

You may have already used Garland Power & Light’s text system to report a power outage.

Now you can also check the status of an outage you’ve reported!

The next time you experience a power outage at your home or business, report the outage to GP&L by texting OUT or your account number to 972-205-4000. After reporting, you will receive a confirmation text message from GP&L. You can reply STATUS to this message to receive an update on your outage, such as when the outage has been recorded in GP&L’s system or when a crew has been assigned.

Learn more at gpltexas.org/OutageText.

Garland Recycling Drop-Off Center, 1426 Commerce St.: Hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Hinton Landfill, 3175 Elm Grove Road: Convenience Center collection hours 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday

FIRE DEPARTMENT BLOOD DRIVE

The Garland Fire Department will sponsor a blood drive for Carter BloodCare from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 28, at the Garland Fire Department Administration Building, 1500 State Highway 66.

COVID-19 antibody testing will be provided to all donors. There will be two Carter BloodCare buses, which can accommodate 48 appointments for donors. With your participation, we can help 144 patients with a successful drive!

November-December 2020 Garland City Press

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Flu Shot More Important Than Ever As if things were not bad enough with the pandemic, an especially challenging flu season could possibly coincide with another round of COVID-19 as we approach winter.

Getting a flu vaccine is now more important than ever!

Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctor and hospital visits, and missed work and school. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older be vaccinated.

By getting a flu vaccine, you are not only helping to protect yourself and those around you from flu. You are also helping to reduce the strain on health care systems that are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The City of Garland Public Health Clinic, 206 Carver St., offers low-cost flu vaccines for children who qualify, along with a full range of other vaccines.

Kent Manton, the City’s public health manager, says the best time to get prepared for the flu season is now. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for the antibodies that protect against influenza to develop. So it is best to get vaccinated as soon as possible so you are protected before influenza begins to spread.

Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at high risk of serious complications from influenza. Young children, senior adults, pregnant women, and people with certain chronic medical conditions are among those groups.

Serious flu complications potentially require hospitalization and sometimes result in death.

This year, the clinic will offer several types of flu vaccines that provide protection for all ages, including the regular inactivated influenza vaccine. All of the flu vaccines offered by Garland Public Health are quadrivalent — designed to protect against four different flu viruses, including two influenza A viruses and two influenza B viruses.

The clinic also offers Flublok® Quadrivalent, the first highantigen content quadrivalent flu vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration. It contains three times more antigen than traditional flu vaccines, making it a great choice for seniors and those with compromised immune systems, among others. FluBlok is manufactured without the use of eggs. It is approved for persons who are 18 years and older.

Also offered is a quadrivalent high-dose influenza vaccine, Fluzone® High-Dose, licensed for people 65 years and older.

Garland Public Health is committed to the health care needs of our community. We are following all CDC guidelines to ensure that our facility is a safe and healthy place for you to receive your vaccination. We are here to serve you and your family all year with walk-in visits available from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Monday through Friday (closed on City holidays).

Call 972-205-3370 for more information.

Environmental Waste Services Holiday Schedule Garland Environmental Waste Services has announced its holiday schedule.

There will be no collection on Thanksgiving, Nov. 26. If your regular collection day is Thursday, it will be collected Friday, Nov. 27. If your regular collection day is Friday, it will be collected Saturday, Nov. 28.

Collection will run as scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 24. Friday collection will move from Dec. 25 to Saturday, Dec. 26. On your collection day, please have your carts out by 7 a.m.

Both the Transfer Station, 1426 Commerce St., and Hinton Landfill, 3175 Elm Grove Road, will be closed Thursday, Nov. 26. The landfill will reopen at 7 a.m. Friday, Nov. 27, and the Transfer Station will reopen at 8 a.m. Monday, Nov. 30.

The Transfer Station and landfill will be open to the public until 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24. They will both be closed Friday, Dec. 25. The landfill will be open at its regular times, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 26. The Transfer Station will be open again to the public at 8 a.m. Monday, Dec. 28.

GarlandEWS.com 10

Garland City Press November-December 2020

STAY SAFE AROUND ELECTRICITY with Tips from GP&L

Electricity makes our lives easier, but it can also be dangerous!

Always use caution around electricity.

Outdoor Electrical Safety: • Never go near a downed power line. Call the police (911) and Garland Power & Light (972-205-3000) to report a downed line.

• Substations and pad-mounted transformers contain high voltages of electricity. Don’t climb or play around either.

Indoor Electrical Safety: • Don't run electrical cords under rugs or furniture.

• Immediately disconnect an appliance if it blows a fuse, emits smoke or sparks. Have the appliance repaired before using it again or discard it.

• Don't use electrical appliances outdoors when the ground is damp or wet.

Visit gpltexas.org/safety for more electricity safety tips.

City Services

A GARLAND EXPERIENCE

Downtown Awards Made Fresh & Local: A Garland Experience, was named winner of Best Promotion Digital Campaign in the 2020 Texas Downtown Association President’s Awards Program.

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE:

CLOTHING & TEXTILES Nearly all textiles and clothing are recyclable. But 84% of discarded clothing ends up in landfills.

Made Fresh & Local was created when the City’s Sounds of Summer live concerts were cancelled due to the pandemic. Local musician and artist duo Bobby and Jessica Orozco stepped in to create a virtual concert experience from Downtown Garland. Local businesses promoted the event and in turn further collaborated with the Orozcos.

The Shirlee Mae Building at 113 N. Sixth St. was a TDA finalist for Best Renovation. The two-story building dates to 1897. Owner Tom DeNolf transformed the building to capture a magnificent balance of old and new.

For more than 30 years the awards program, sponsored by TDA, has recognized outstanding projects, places, and people of Texas downtowns. Communities across the state submitted 104 entries in 10 different categories. Entries were divided into design and achievement categories and based on the cities’ population.

Do you have items in your closet that you’ve never even worn? Do you throw away your clothing when you no longer want to wear them anymore? If the answer is yes, you’re not alone. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average American throws away 81 pounds of clothing every year.

Help us hamper textile waste by using a sustainable substitute.

Good: Clothing, shoes and textiles are recyclable but DO NOT belong in your blue recycle cart. Instead, drop your items in the City of Garland World Wear Project bins. These accept all clothing, shoes and textiles for recycling. The bins can be found at both the Residential Recycling Center, 1426 Commerce St., and the Hinton Landfill, 3175 Elm Grove Road.

Better: Did you know the secondhand apparel market is a $29 billion industry?

Consider donating or selling your items to a local thrift or consignment store or in an online marketplace.

Best: Generations ago, mending and repairing clothing was common practice.

Have you ever turned an old pair of jeans into shorts or a T-shirt into a tank top? Investing in higher-quality items and upcycling them instead of getting rid of them saves money and helps develop new skills.

Visit GarlandWasteWizard.com for details on how to properly recycle and dispose of hundreds of items.

Dia De Los Muertos While we cannot gather together to celebrate this year, the City of Garland, Garland Association for Hispanic Affairs, the Garland Independent School District, and International Leadership of Texas have teamed up to bring you "Dia De Los Muertos - A Garland Story." Streaming on Facebook and YouTube channels, we will be celebrating the history and purpose of the event here in Garland. Find more details, visit GarlandParks.com or social media (@PlayGarland).

GarlandTXgov

@PlayGarland November-December 2020 Garland City Press

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Celebrate Thirsty Third Thursdays in Downtown Garland

Quality of Life

Downtown Garland is celebrating local businesses, residents and visitors with a new event, Thirsty Third Thursdays.

Make Your Mark in Garland during Thirsty Third Thursdays from 4 to 8 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month. Participating businesses serve complimentary beverages for patrons to enjoy while shopping and taking advantage of extended business hours.

Participating businesses include 3Q Fitness, Baker’s Main Street Furniture, Current Artist Workshop, The Frocksy, Garland Landmark Museum, Jimmy Wallace Guitars, Karin Wiseman Collection, Queen B Studio, Roach Feed & Seed and Wild Grace.

Every month, a host business will be the first stop for attendees. Jimmy Wallace Guitars is host business on Nov. 19. Queen B Studio is the host business on Dec. 17. That’s where you’ll go for event tote bags and shopping maps of participating businesses. They’ll also distribute wrist bands to shoppers 21 years and older for complimentary beverages throughout the evening.

Take advantage of the opportunity to also see various art throughout Downtown Garland. Our Public Art Walking Tour features murals, sculptures and more.

After completing your sipping, shopping and strolling, enjoy a meal at one of Garland’s many Downtown restaurants. With a diverse restaurant selection, there is something to appeal to all your cravings.

Check out the Visit Garland Facebook page for more information and a sneak peek at the monthly beverage offerings.

Contact Tracing The City of Garland recently recognized Emely Castillo and Elizabeth Huff, two members of the contact tracing team put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The team consisted of City volunteers, paid City staff and temporary staff.

It was supervised by Dena Weiss, the business operations supervisor for the Facilities Management Department, and Public Health Manager Kent Manton.

Both Castillo and Huff worked with the City as temporary staff. They received certificates of appreciation and gift cards.

Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28 - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sample local food and enjoy event-exclusive discounts.

Spend your holiday-shopping weekend in Downtown Garland!

Spend your money where your heart is 12

Garland City Press November-December 2020

Find our event on Facebook!

Safety First as Facilities Reopen We want you to utilize our facilities and enjoy all that the City of Garland has to offer. But above all, we want you to have safe experiences.

Masking up, social distancing and a sanitary environment are common to all City facilities. You’ll find floor stickers, signage, line stanchions and plexiglass.

At the Granville Arts Center and Plaza Theatre, all staff are wearing masks or shields, and the facilities are cleaned thoroughly before and after each production. Seating is assigned following the state guidelines of two seats in between each couple or group, and every other row is left empty. All patrons are required to wear masks according to the governor’s guidelines.

The pandemic has had an effect on the playlist as well. For its last two plays, Garland Civic Theatre solved the problem of distancing on stage by having husbandand-wife teams do the shows.

"Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical" was written with supporting roles for the title character’s doctor, husband, manager, priest, mother and sister. But those roles comically call for a single actor. Garland resident Steve Golin (pictured at right) shifted between all of them — plus Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and others — in working beside his wife Whitney.

33RD ANNUAL Leadership Garland

COMMUNITY FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST THURSDAY, DEC. 10 AT 7:30 A.M. ZOOM VIRTUAL COMMUNICATIONS KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Chris Kelly

PRESIDENT & CEO | EBBY HALLIDAY

LEARN MORE AND RSVP ONLINE GARLANDCHAMBER.COM

Plexiglass is now evident at the front desk of recreation centers. Program numbers are still limited, though, and basketball gyms, game rooms and lobby areas remain closed. Capacity is limited to 50% at Body Shops workout facilities — and they’re closed every 45 minutes for disinfecting.

As with other City facilities, hand sanitizer is readily available at the rec centers. Hand washing reminders and foot pulls have been installed. And temperatures of staff are closely monitored.

The City’s two senior centers remain closed until further notice. Senior exercise classes are available at CGTV or by clicking City Videos at GarlandTX.gov. Stay & Play Virtual Recreation opportunities are available at GarlandParks.com. The City continues to serve and deliver meals to registered seniors. Call 972-205-2769 for details.

November-December 2020 Garland City Press

13

Quality of Life

events Recreation Center

THANKSGIVING BREAK CAMP

a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, • 8Nov. 23-25

Ages 7 to 11, $55 per child Bradfield Recreation Center 1146 Castle Drive Enjoy team-building games, sports, crafts and more.

972-205-2770 or BRC@GarlandTX.gov

EMPTY HANDS KARATE

10 to 11 a.m. Saturdays, Nov. 7-28 • Ages 3 and up, $20 per month Fields Recreation Center 1701 Dairy Road A combination of hard and soft styles with open- and closed-hand techniques.

972-205-3090 or FRC@GarlandTX.gov

N.E.S.T. BASKETBALL

7 to 8 p.m. Mondays, Nov. 2-30 • Ages 6 to 16, $45 per month Granger Recreation Center 1310 W. Avenue F A training program designed by a former Mississippi State University Bulldogs athlete.

972-205-2771 or GRC@GarlandTX.gov

PIANO

Various times Wednesdays, Nov. 4-18 • Ages 7 to 11, $44 per month Holford Recreation Center 2314 Homestead Place Learn piano basics including proper playing technique, note recognition and the fundamentals of music theory.

972-205-2772 or HRC@GarlandTX.gov

Garland Libraries Take Measures to Promote Patron Safety In continuing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all Garland libraries have reopened with limited capacities and some service changes.

To ensure the safety of patrons and staff, masks are required at each library. The libraries are still offering curbside pickup, online card registration, downloadable books and online resources.

Staff are sanitizing shelf-checkout stations, computers and other equipment throughout the day. Furniture has been rearranged to encourage social distancing. All returned materials are quarantined before they are sent back to the shelves for other patrons.

To avoid large gatherings, library programs have transitioned to virtual offerings, and will remain online through the end of 2020.

Virtual events consist of educational, informational and recreational programs for children and teens. These include storytimes, basic skills workshops, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics events.

The library will also present virtual events for adults including an online version of the annual Holiday Maker Festival. The festival will consist of four online craft workshops that will be posted weekly to Facebook.com/GarlandLibraryTX beginning in late November. Participants can learn how to make reverse canvas holiday art, macramé ornaments, mason jar lid wreaths and exploding picture boxes. Registration is not required.

Other events for adults will include online book club meetings via Zoom Thursday, Nov. 19, and Thursday, Dec. 17. Visit the library website for themes.

The Traverse Texas Walking Challenge continues through Nov. 30. Traverse Texas is a fitness challenge for patrons of all ages.

Participants can log their exercise in Beanstack, the Library's online reading challenge software, or print out a log from the library website.

The library also continues to offer online resources, such as HelpNow’s online tutoring, Mango Languages, Brain HQ, the Gale Virtual Reference Library and Universal Class online courses. All are available remotely at Library.GarlandTX.gov.

E-books, audiobooks, magazines, newspapers and comics are also available for checkout through the library website or through the OverDrive and Libby apps.

Free, public Wi-Fi is accessible both inside and outside of each location. Online library card registration is available on the library website.

For the most up-to-date event schedule, information on what library services are currently available, and access to downloadable materials and online resources, visit the library online at Library.GarlandTX.gov or follow the library on Facebook at Facebook.com/GarlandLibraryTX.

RECORDING ARTS

to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, • 7Nov. 4-19 Ages 13 and up, $100 per month Hollabaugh Recreation Center 3925 W. Walnut St. Learn about aspects of audio recording and engineering needed to work in the recording industry.

972-205-2721 or HHRC@GarlandTX.gov

Register now!

Visit PlayGarland.com or call your local recreation center for more events.

@PlayGarland 14

Garland City Press November-December 2020

Garland Hosts Lacrosse Tournament Visit Garland and the Garland Parks & Recreation Department have teamed with sports event management company NXT Sports Inc. to bring a lacrosse tournament to the city Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5 and 6. The Winter Wildcard tournament for high school and middle school boys’ teams will be played at Winters and Audubon parks.

More than 60 teams are expected to participate. NXT is a Philadelphia-area organization that runs 80 lacrosse camps and clinics, 25 boys’ and girls’ teams, and recruiting events across the country. The organization’s 40-plus annual tournaments range from the professional and college levels to elementary-age athletes.

Landmark Museum

Events

from the Arts

All theatre seating will be restricted to follow the Governor's current COVID-19 guidelines. All patrons are required to wear a mask or face covearing.

QUILT EXHIBIT Through Friday, Jan. 15 Granville Arts Center, 300 N. Fifth St. The Garland Quilt Guild presents a quilt exhibit featuring expert stitchwork and pattern-making. Admission: free and open to the public. The Granville Arts Center Gallery Space is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and during performances.

A TUNA CHRISTMAS Nov. 27-Dec. 6 Plaza Theatre, 521 W. State St. Garland Civic Theatre presents the comedy “A Tuna Christmas,” the sequel to “Greater Tuna.”

In the third-smallest town in Texas, radio station news personalities Thurston Wheelis and Arles Struvie report on Yuletide activities.

These include the town’s annual Christmas Yard Display Contest, won 14 times in a row by Vera Carp. Tickets: GarlandArtsBoxOffice.com or 972-205-2790.

BECOMING GARLAND AVENUE 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15 CGTV, GarlandTX.gov, Channel 44 (Frontier), Channel 16 (Spectrum) and Channel 99 (U-verse) Friends of Garland’s Historic Magic 11th Street presents a version of happenings in early Garland, based on actual events of 1913. Originally scheduled as a ticketed performance, it has been transitioned to a free televised event because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY Dec. 11-20 Plaza Theatre, 521 W. State St. A beloved holiday classic comes to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast in this presentation by the Company of Rowlett Performers.

With an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to the stage, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve. Tickets: corptheatre.org or at the door prior to showtime.

•

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DOWNTOWN GARLAND SCAVENGER HUNT

Your�history Here

!

Visit the museum during open hours to get your scavenger hunt clues, lanyard and starting pin.

Head to the business you think is the correct answer and see if you are right. If so, they will give you another souvenir pin. Once you have all 10 pins, return to the museum for your goodie bag full of prizes. This is a great way to learn about historic Downtown Garland while visiting businesses at the same time!

Open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thu., Fri. and Sat. 393 N. Sixth St., Downtown Garland

GarlandHeritage.org

•

GARLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20 Granville Arts Center, 300 N. Fifth St. Concert II of Garland Symphony Orchestra’s A Ludwig Shindig season will feature performances of Mozart’s “Overture to the Impressario,” “Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano in C Major” and “Symphony No. 102 in BbMajor.” Tickets: GarlandArtsBoxOffice. com or 972-205-2790.

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•

HOLIDAY CONCERT

7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18 • Granville Arts Center, 300 N. Fifth St.

Tenor Ricardo Garcia is the Garland Symphony Orchestra’s featured guest at a Holiday Concert that will feature the annual carol sing-along and holiday classics. Tickets: GarlandArtsBoxOffice.com or 972-205-2790.

November-December 2020 Garland City Press

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Garland City Press City of Garland P. O. Box 469002 Garland, Texas 75046-9002

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID GARLAND, TEXAS Permit No. 365

GARLAND ALERT SYSTEM

ALERTS

The City of Garland has changed its emergency notification system from CodeRED to the Garland Alert System as of Nov. 1. Please register or re-register to update or set up your phone, email and text options today!

Postal Customer Garland, Texas

If we can’t reach you, we can’t ALERT you!

Request alerts and notify responders of unique circumstances – ALL WITH ONE REGISTRATION!

Connect with Us!

Register online at GarlandTX.gov/Alerts or call 972-781-7272 for assistance.

Garland eAssist Report issues, get information and submit questions online or through an app on your smartphone. Visit GarlandTX.gov and click on the eAssist button or download Garland eAssist from your app store.

Garland City Press Briefs This weekly enewsletter is sent each Sunday evening and contains reminders and updates about City-sponsored events and activities.

Register on the City’s website. Look for the Enews link.

Social Media The City is active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Nextdoor.

Check these out by visiting GarlandTX.gov and see what interests you most!

GarlandTX.gov

Garland City Press is produced and funded by the City of Garland and contains information about the City, as well as details on City-sponsored events.

Send comments or questions to: Dorothy White, Public & Media Relations, City of Garland, P.O. Box 469002, Garland, TX 75046-9002.