Nov. 22, 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

Gobble Hobble Tomorrow 
The 19th Annual Gobble Hobble is set for tomorrow morning, featuring a 5K and a 1-mile Fun Run. Both events will start and finish at the Galatyn Park Urban Center, winding through the scenic Spring Creek Nature Preserve. The action kicks off at 8 a.m., with proceeds benefiting the Richardson Boys & Girls Club.  

Website: www.gobblehobble.com   

Trash/Recycling/BABIC Schedule Impacts for the Thanksgiving Holiday 
There will be NO trash, recycling or Brush and Bulky Item Collection (BABIC) service provided Thursday or Friday, Nov. 28-29. There will be NO make-up days for trash collection or BABIC. Regularly scheduled trash and BABIC service will resume on Monday, Dec. 2.

The table below shows the make-up days for recycling service.

City Facilities Schedule for the Thanksgiving Holiday   
For the Thanksgiving holiday Nov. 28-29, City facilities will operate according to the following holiday schedule:

Christmas Parade Applications Close Monday; VIP Tickets Still Available 
There are three days left to register for the Richardson’s 52nd Annual Christmas Parade, to be held Saturday, Dec. 7 with the theme of “Holidays Around the World.” Participants are encouraged to bring the theme to life with creative costumes, vehicles, pets, and floats.  

This year’s parade will take place along S. Plano Rd., between Belt Line Rd. and Apollo Rd. The entry fee is $25 for individuals and organizations and $100 for businesses, plus a new, unwrapped toy (groups are encouraged to donate multiple toys). All fees and donations will benefit Network of Community Ministries.   

Parade rules and a registration form can be found online. Deadline for registration is 11:59 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25. Also online is information on parade volunteering and how to become a Friend of the Parade VIP; VIPs receive reserved parking and seating plus complimentary hot cocoa and other refreshments (sales for VIP tickets close Dec. 4).  

Website: www.cor.net/ChristmasParade  

Fire Department Toy and Food Drive Underway; Drop Off Items at City Facilities 
Collection bins at 10 City facilities (see list below) are now accepting donations for the Fire Department’s annual Toy and Food Drive, which began earlier this week. The endeavor benefits the neighbors served by Network of Community Ministries.  

New toys and teen gifts as well as unexpired canned/boxed food items are welcome (please, no wheeled toys such as bicycles, scooters, wagons, skates or tricycles).  

Details:  
Through Dec. 11 
Bins located at:  

Drop off items during regular business hours of facility where collection bin is located. 

Network website: www.thenetwork.org

Culture in The CORE Held 
The annual Culture in The CORE was held last weekend at Main Street Plaza in Richardson’s Downtown CORE District amidst great weather, celebrating the tastes, sounds and spirit of the community.   

The event featured food for sale (and sampling) from numerous restaurants representing the cuisine of many countries including Japan, Nigeria, Mexico, Peru, Thailand, Turkey and the U.S., with music and dance performances throughout the afternoon.   

Performances included Polyphonic Dallas, Chamber Music International, Buddha’s Light International Association, Berkner Ramblers, Zorya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble of Dallas, Bandan Koro African Drum and Dance Ensemble, the Heat – Hispanic Latin Dance Club from J.J. Pearce High School, and Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folkorico. The event also featured several community cultural organizations sharing information about their culture, traditions and upcoming events.   

Website: www.richardsoncoredistrict.com 

Video: Click here  

Ribbon Cutting, Bridge Dedication Held at Twin Rivers Park 
Last Saturday, the City Council held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Twin Rivers Park, located on the east side of Glenville Drive between Belt Line and Spring Valley roads. The new six-acre park offers a range of features, including a 1/3-mile walking trail, a pavilion, picnic tables, solar-powered lighting, native landscaping and several grassy areas on which to relax, throw a ball, etc.   

A prominent amenity is the Bob and Lynn Townsend Bridge, which was dedicated by the Council during Saturday’s event. The late Bob Townsend served on the Richardson City Council for 14 years (as Mayor from 2011-2013), and several Townsend family members were in attendance. 
 
Completed last month, Twin Rivers Park is part of the voter-approved 2021 Bond Program and becomes Richardson’s 42nd municipal park.   

Website: www.cor.net/parks 

Website: www.cor.net/bond  

Volunteers Needed for Santa’s Village 
There are still spots available for volunteers to help staff the City’s annual Santa’s Village at Huffhines Park, this year scheduled for Dec. 7-8, 13-15 and 20-22. Volunteers assist with activities in the dwellings, serve as greeters and interact with guests. Shifts vary based on day but average 3.5 hours each, from 5:30-9 p.m. (beginning a half hour before the Village opens).  

Over the duration of Santa’s Village, the City traditionally relies on more than 100 volunteers per night who contribute more than 4,000 hours.  

All volunteers must be 16 years of age or older and must sign up in advance. 

Volunteer sign-up: Click here 

No City Council Meeting Monday 
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no City Council work session or meeting Monday, Nov. 25. The City Council will next meet Monday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m.   

For future agendas and meeting dates, go to www.cor.net/CityCouncil. 

Closures, Detours Expected Tonight for Northbound US 75 Near Bush Turnpike 
The North Texas Tollway Authority will close the northbound US 75 ramps onto the Bush Turnpike (PGBT) from 10 p.m. tonight (Friday, Nov. 22) until 4 a.m. tomorrow as routine maintenance work continues. Message boards will be placed nearby to alert drivers of the closure. The work is expected to be complete by 4 a.m. Saturday, weather permitting. 

Northbound traffic on US 75 heading to westbound Bush Turnpike will be detoured to West Plano Parkway via the Plano Parkway/15th Street exit, and then to southbound Alma Road in order to connect to PGBT. Northbound traffic heading to eastbound Bush Turnpike will be detoured to the Plano Parkway/15th Street exit ramp and then to the Bush Turnpike eastbound frontage road to enter PGBT. 

Website: www.ntta.org  

Greenville Narrowed to One Lane Tomorrow North of Arapaho 
On Saturday, Nov. 23 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m., the contractor for the Greenville and Arapaho Intersection Improvement Project will be pouring concrete on southbound Greenville Avenue just north of Arapaho Road. During this time there will be only one open lane available in that area to through traffic. This could cause some traffic delay at the intersection—please seek an alternate route if possible. 

www.cor.net/projects

Thanksgiving Break Tennis Camp Starts Monday; Space Still Available 
Huffhines Tennis Center, 1601 Syracuse Dr. 
Cost: $160 (sign up here)  
Nov. 25-29 (no camp Thanksgiving Day) 
9 a.m.-1 p.m.   

Kids and teenagers ages 5-16 will improve their tennis skills, meet new friends and have fun at a pizza party. All skill levels welcome; bring a racquet or use one provided.  

Note: In case of inclement weather, camp will be held in the Huffhines Rec Center gym.  

Learn About File Backup, Protecting Data Tomorrow Morning 
Millwood Creek Room
Cost: Free (registration and a current RPL card in good standing required; call 972-744-4355 to register)
Saturday, Nov. 23
10:30 a.m.-Noon 

Discover your options for safekeeping your files and how to protect your data within each option. 

“Six Feet Under Texas” with Tui Snider Tomorrow Afternoon 
City Council Chamber, City Hall, 2360 Campbell Creek Blvd. Ste. 525
Cost: Free
Saturday, Nov. 23
2-3 p.m.  

In this photo-filled presentation sponsored by the Library, you’ll find out who was the “Jesus in cowboy boots,” what happened to $10,000 worth of gold buried beneath a cemetery tree, and other fascinating but forgotten facts in North Texas burial history. Also, in honor of Veterans Day, Snider will talk about U.S. military headstones, including how to identify different kinds and which symbols to look for. Note: Park and enter at the City Hall entrance, near the intersection of Plano and Greenville.   

At the Eisemann Center:

• PDT Dance Arts Presents “The Nutcracker” Tonight and Saturday
  Bank of America Theatre
  Tickets: $20-$25 (tickets)
  Nov. 22-23 
  Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.  

  PDT Dance Arts performs Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet, “The Nutcracker.”

   

• Diamond Horseshoe Presents “Movie Night at the Symphony” Saturday   
  Hill Performance Hall
  Tickets: $45-$75 (tickets)
  Saturday, Nov. 23
  7:30 p.m.  

  It’s a celebration of music in film—the biggest songs from some of the most iconic film scores are performed by a live orchestra conducted by Dallas’ own Dr. Bryan English, who has produced symphonic pops concerts for 15 years and worked with more than 40 national touring shows and Broadway artists. 

   

Time to Winterize Your Landscape 
If you haven’t already done so, this weekend is a good time to get your yard and garden ready for winter—the average date range for the first freeze in Dallas County is Nov. 21-30. The Dallas County Master Gardener Association, Inc., a division of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, recommends several things to do during November, including:  

More November gardening tasks: www.dallascountymastergardeners.org  

Selecting/Caring for Natural Christmas Trees 
If you’re planning to buy a natural Christmas tree from a local tree lot or cut-your-own farm, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension has helpful information online regarding the differences between types of trees, how to care for a natural tree after you bring it home, and how to buy a tree so that it can be planted in your landscape after the new year. There’s also a link to a database (updated for 2024) of cut-your-own tree farms in Texas. Find the full article here.   

When you’re ready to dispose of your tree, consider the City’s “Tree Cycling” program, which converts trees into mulch. Trees must be unflocked and have all tinsel and decoration removed. Trees can be dropped off at select “tree cycling” locations in Richardson (see website below) or placed on the curb for brush and bulky item collection (BABIC). Richardson tree cycling begins Dec. 20 and lasts through Feb. 7, 2025.  

Website: www.cor.net/babic  

Parks Maintenance Helper II ($39,288 - $57,724 Salary) 
The Parks and Recreation Department is looking for individuals who like performing manual labor to complete various tasks required of the Parks and Recreation Department. A Texas Drivers License Class C is required.   

Crew Chief ($54,504 - $76,104 Salary) 
The Public Services Department is currently looking for an individual with experience in construction and/or maintenance of water distribution and waste collection systems. A Texas Commercial Driver’s License, Class A is required.   

Physical Activity Class Instructor PT ($7.25 – $35.70 Hourly) 
The Parks and Recreation Department is currently looking for an individual who can teach individuals and/or groups of various sizes in year-round recreation program. CPR and First Aid Certification required when applicable for specific courses/classes to be taught. Certificate of liability insurance, with the City of Richardson named as an additional insured, may be required for some classes.   

www.cor.net/jobs

Pet of the Week
Meet Lady, a charming 4-year-old Labrador Retriever with a heart full of love. She's not just sweet and friendly, but also incredibly smart. She has a knack for understanding and following commands, making her a joy to interact with. Lady's intelligence shines through in her ability to learn new things quickly. She is always eager to please and loves to show off her skills. Lady's sweet nature and smart mind make her an ideal companion. 

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

City Council Links