Feb. 2, 2024

This is the latest edition of Week In Review — a series of weekly messages from the Mayor and City Council to help Richardson residents and businesses keep up to date on municipal events. If you would like to sign up to receive this in a weekly e-mail click here.

Throughout the year, the City Council or City Plan Commission will hold meetings on topics of significant interest to local neighborhoods or the community in general. Links to view all City Council or City Plan Commission meeting documents that may have topics of interest to you can be found here:

City Council | City Plan Commission

Richardson’s “State of the City” Available for Viewing On-Demand 
The Mayor and City Council delivered the annual State of the City Address Wednesday evening at the Eisemann Center, highlighting the City’s major achievements in 2023, providing updates on current projects, and offering a look at the year ahead. With a theme of “Outliers,” the address showed how Richardson is a leader in the DFW metroplex in areas such as fiscal responsibility, education, economic development, community amenities, and health and safety.  

Videos featuring interviews with community members accompanied the in-person presentation, and several local leaders in education, business, government and nonprofits were recognized during the event, as well as community volunteers.  

The event was free and open to the public; it was also available for live viewing online.  

View on-demand: www.cor.net/stateofthecity 

Last Day to Register to Vote in March Primary is Feb. 5 
Voter registration applications must be postmarked by Monday, Feb. 5 or brought in person to the county registrar’s office by the end of business hours on that day in order to participate in the upcoming March 5 primary election. The application to register is available at the Richardson Public Library’s circulation desk—since the Library is an official Voter Registration Agency, staff may assist applicants in spot checking for errors and can mail the applications by certified mail, free of charge.  

Applications are also available online (for printing out and mailing) at www.votetexas.gov. Note that after filling out information and hitting “submit,” a printable form is generated for you to mail; it does not mean registration is complete.  

New registered voters will receive their voter cards by mail. Early voting begins Feb. 20.  

For a list of county registrar locations, click here. 
More information: www.votetexas.gov 

City Photo Contest Winners Announced 
The City’s Parks and Recreation Department has announced the winners in the 2024 City of Richardson photography contest. Kaye Hargis won both Best of Show and the Proficient Division with a photo in the Landscape category entitled, “Old Schoolhouse on the Prairie;” top honors in the Amateur Adult Division went to David Steger for “Blue Heron Rookery,” in the Other/Anything Goes category; and Ava Dunn won the Student Division with a Captive Animal photo entitled, “Grey.” Additional winners were announced for Honorable Mention through First Place.  

View winning works: www.cor.net/photocontest 

Richardson Today in Mailboxes Next Week; Online Edition Available Today 
The February 2024 print edition of Richardson Today has been sent to the printer and is expected to hit mailboxes late next week. It includes an in-depth look at the recent State of the City Address, as well as the Spring Recreation Guide, with listings of upcoming classes and events for all ages.  

The digital version of the February 2024 Richardson Today and the Spring Recreation Guide are available online; click here to view Richardson Today and here to view the Recreation Guide. 

Richardson Today is mailed to every residence in the city. Ask your local mail carrier if you do not receive your copy and you live within the boundaries of Richardson.  

Keep up with Richardson Today stories as they happen, including video, at www.RichardsonToday.com. A digital version of the print edition of Richardson Today may also be accessed there.  

Traffic Delays Expected as Road Buttons Replaced along Jupiter Road, Murphy Road 
Motorists should expect delays on southbound Murphy Road between Murphy Road Baptist Church (411 Murphy Rd.) and Campbell Road with multiple lane closures from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. as road buttons are being replaced. The work is expected to be complete by Monday, Feb. 5.  

Road button work is also taking place on a 3.5-mile stretch of southbound and northbound Jupiter Road between Buckingham Road and Springpark Way, with multiple lane closures and major delays expected between 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The work is expected to wrap up by Friday, Feb. 9. 

www.cor.net/projects

Free ITT Community Challenge Event Tomorrow: “Women’s Functional Fitness” 
Heights Recreation Center
Cost: Free
Saturday, Feb. 3
1 p.m.  

What do you need to be able to do to be “functionally fit?” Come learn some easy stretches and moves you can add to your life to improve balance, strength, movement, and flexibility, using body weight, resistance bands and light weights.    

This free class is being held in conjunction with the It’s Time Texas (ITT) Community Challenge, an annual eight-week statewide health competition that ends this year on March 3. To participate in the Challenge, download the “ITT Community Challenge” smartphone app and select Richardson to add to our community points!   

You do not need to be in the Challenge to take part in this class.   

Website: www.ittcommunitychallenge.org  

Free Heart Smart Community CPR Class Feb. 10 
Methodist Richardson Medical Center, 2831 E. PGBT, Conference Rooms A & B
Cost: Free but registration is required; click here to register
Saturday, Feb. 10
Sessions offered at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.  

Join Methodist Richardson Medical Center (MRMC), the Richardson Fire Department and UT Dallas for a free community CPR and AED Basics class led by MRMC physician Nhan Nguyen, MD. Learn skills that could save a life! Studies show that if bystander CPR is performed within the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, survival rates rapidly increase. Note: This is not a certification course. 

Teen Program Tomorrow: Codenames 
Storytime Room
Cost: Free; registration not required
Saturday, Feb. 3
3-4 p.m.   

Teens compete to see who makes contact with all their secret agents first, and have fun while working on a team, problem solving and avoiding the assassin! For ages 13-18. 

Lunchtime Lecture Monday: “Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the Scottish Highlands by Scenic Rail” 
Millwood Creek Room
Cost: Free; no registration required
Monday, Feb. 5
11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.   

Armchair travel to Scotland, one of the most fun, interesting, historic, and beautiful places in all of Europe, with “The Traveling Professor” Steve Solosky. Attendees are welcome to bring their own lunch to enjoy during his presentation. 

At the Eisemann Center:

• Last Weekend to Experience “Sensing Deep Space: Pandora’s Cluster”   
  Bank of America Hall 
  Tickets: Free (ticket information)
  Through Feb. 4
  Enter and exit anytime 1-7 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday 
  
  Get an up close and personal look at Pandora’s Cluster, a galactic collision of several galaxy clusters located approximately 4 billion light-years away, through this multisensory installation that uses images captured via the James Webb Space Telescope along with a soundtrack created by audiovisual artist and composer Ben Heim. The installation is the collaborative work of a team of artists, scientists and technicians coordinated by Houston nonprofit SciArt Exchange, including staff and students from UT Dallas’ Physics Department and the UT Dallas Bass School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology’s ArtSciLab. Funded through the Eisemann Edge Initiative at the Communities Foundation of Texas, additional support provided by the Richardson Cultural Arts Commission and the City of Richardson.   
  
  
• RSO: “A Night at the Movies” Tomorrow 
  Hill Performance Hall
  Tickets: $22-$80 (ticket information)
  Saturday, Feb. 3
  7:30 p.m.
  
  A tribute to some of our favorite Hollywood heroes and villains, with guest commentary by Gary Cogill, longtime film critic for WFAA. The program includes music from “The Adventures of Robin Hood,” “Psycho,” “Jaws” and “Dances with Wolves.”
  
  
• Keyboard Conversations^®: “Festive French Fare” Monday Night 
  Bank of America Theatre
  Tickets: $42-$50 (ticket information)
  Monday, Feb. 5
  7:30 p.m.
  
  Concert pianist Jeffrey Siegel blends commentary and performance in his Keyboard Conversations^® series—the Feb. 5 program features music from some of the most popular French composers of all time, including Debussy, Saint-Saens, Faure, Ravel and Satie.   
  
  
• RISD Art Showcase Opens with Free “First Friday Reception” Tonight 
  Green Mezzanine Gallery
  Admission: Free
  Friday, Feb. 2
  6-8 p.m.
  
  Come meet the artists of the RISD Districtwide K-12 Arts Showcase and enjoy light bites. The exhibit will continue through Feb. 25, open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and during all Eisemann Center public performances. 

 At UT Dallas:

• Musica Nova: “An Evening in Paris” Online Tonight
  Cost to view: Free
  Available beginning Friday, Feb. 2
  7:30 p.m.
  
  View the Dec. 1, 2023, live performance of “Musica Nova: An Evening in Paris” on the UT Dallas Bass School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology YouTube channel. The concert features UT Dallas students, guest artists, and pianist Mikhail Berestnev, and is directed by Robert Xavier Rodriguez.
  
  Program notes/more information: ICYMI - Musica Nova: An Evening in Paris - Online - Comet Calendar (utdallas.edu)

City Photo Contest Winner’s Exhibit Begins Tomorrow  
Huffhines Recreation Center, 200 N. Plano Rd.
Admission: Free
Feb. 3-20
6 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Fridays; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays 

All 134 winning entries are on display from the City’s 2024 Photography Contest. 

www.cor.net/EPI

Pet of the Week
Meet Little Bit, a young pup with a heart full of joy and a spirit that's contagious. She's friendly, always ready to greet you with a wagging tail and a playful nudge. Her curiosity keeps her exploring, her mellow nature makes her a great companion, and her playful antics will keep you entertained. She's great with other dogs, making her an excellent addition to a family with furry members. Adopt Little Bit and bring home not just a pet, but a loyal friend, a playful companion, and an endless source of happiness.

For information about animals available for adoption, visit the Animal Shelter’s web page here.

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