Due to forecasted inclement weather and notification of the withdrawal of a high percentage of parade participants due to weather-related safety concerns, organizers have made the decision to cancel Richardson’s 52nd Annual Christmas Parade. The parade was originally scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 7, at 9 a.m., running along Plano Road between Belt Line and Apollo Roads.

Event organizers extend their heartfelt gratitude to all parade participants and volunteers for their support and to everyone who contributed toys and donations to benefit the NETWORK of Community Ministries.

Website: www.cor.net/ChristmasParade

“Santa’s Village at Huffhines Park” Open for the Season Tomorrow Night
Santa’s Village is currently scheduled to open Saturday, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. at Huffhines Park with the traditional “lighting of the Village” and the arrival of Santa on a firetruck. Visitors are encouraged to check the Santa's Village website at www.cor.net/SantasVillage or calling the Parks Hotline before going to the event. The free event includes many of Richardson Santa’s Village time-treasured dwellings along with interactive activities in each; free photos with Santa; live entertainment; concessions for sale; and free parking. Opening Remarks by Mayor Bob Dubey will take place at 5:50 p.m. 

Summary of event details:   

Santa’s Village
Huffhines Park, 1500 Apollo Rd. 
Admission: Free
Dates: Saturday-Sunday Dec. 7-8; Friday-Sunday Dec. 13-15 and Dec. 20-22
Time: 6-9 p.m.

The village is also open to stroll through and enjoy Dec. 9-11 and Dec. 16-19 from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. (dwellings are closed but the twinkling lights will be on).  

Website: www.cor.net/SantasVillage
Event hotline: 972-744-4301 (press 4 at the prompt)
Video: https://vimeo.com/1036867778?share=copy 

Poinsettia Tree is Up at the Eisemann Center, Ready for Holiday Photos
The City’s annual Poinsettia Tree is now on display inside the Eisemann Center’s lobby. A tradition for more than 30 years, the 14-foot-tall tree is created by Parks and Recreation Department employees using nearly 200 poinsettias. It can be used as a unique backdrop for holiday photos with friends and family and is available to visit during normal business hours as well as during all Eisemann Center events.   

See below under Environmental to learn how you can keep poinsettias healthy and looking good throughout the holiday season and beyond.  

Website: www.eisemanncenter.com  
Address: 2351 Performance Dr.  

One More Week for RFD’s 2024 Toy/Food Drive
There’s less than a week left to bring toys and food to any of 10 City facilities (see list below) for the Fire Department’s annual Toy and Food Drive. The endeavor benefits the neighbors served by Network of Community Ministries. New toys and unexpired canned/boxed food items are welcome.  

Details:  
Through Wednesday, Dec. 11  
Bins located at:  

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

Website: www.thenetwork.org

Council Creates New Charter Review Commission; Appoints Members
The Richardson City Council officially established the City’s Charter Review Commission at Monday’s City Council meeting and announced the names of the residents who have been appointed to serve. Council members have been reviewing applications and interviewing potential candidates since the application period closed Oct. 31.  

The 11-member commission will begin its review next month and is expected to submit a report to the City Council in May. Any recommendations the new commission makes for changes to the Charter will go to the City Council, which will determine if an election will be called in November 2025 to modify the Charter. 

Established in 1956, the City’s Charter is a 36-page document that creates the legal foundation of the City’s municipal government. Every 10 years the City Council appoints a commission to look at this document to ensure it remains relevant and effective. 

Current City Charter: www.cor.net/government/charter-code-of-ordinances

Richardson Ranks 1st for 2024 National Night Out
The Richardson Police Department (RPD) announced this week that Richardson has earned first place nationwide in Category 2 (for communities with populations between 100,000 and 300,000) in the National Association of Town Watch's 2024 National Night Out awards. The recognition highlights the city’s exceptional celebration of National Night Out this year—on October 1, RPD collaborated with local residents and businesses to organize 114 block parties and park celebrations across the city that included a “Turn the Town Blue” campaign. The event saw participation from police officers, firefighters, city and state officials, volunteers and special guests, including Miss Texas.  

National Night Out is held annually in October in many southern states (and in August in more summer-temperate climates) and is designed to promote police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to help in crime prevention and enhance quality of life. RPD has won the first-place distinction three times since the City’s population placed Richardson into Award Category 2. 

Website: www.cor.net/NNO 
Video: Click here

Applications Still Open for Citizen Police Academy
Anyone aged 21 and up who lives or works in Richardson is encouraged to apply for the 2025 Richardson Citizen Police Academy. The 16-week program, which begins Feb. 4, offers an opportunity to learn about the Richardson Police Department (RPD) in a fun, interactive and academic environment. Presentations by officers and specialized units give citizens a chance to meet personnel and learn from each division. Students will experience RPD’s training, participate in SWAT demonstrations, drive patrol vehicles, get hands-on with a crime scene, ride out on patrol, and be involved in many more operational activities.  

The program meets from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. Applications close once all 20 spots are filled. 

More information/application: Citizen Police Academy | Richardson Police Department  

Contact: PD Community Relations Unit, 972-744-4955  

City Employees Honored with Rotary Awards
Jarrod Cheatham and Wilfried Van Beesel were recently named the 2024 Supervisor of the Year and 2024 Employee of the Year, respectively, by the Richardson Rotary Club. The awards, given by the Club since 1992, are specially designed to recognize City employees who made significant contributions during the past year. 

Cheatham was appointed Assistant Director of Communications and Community Engagement in April of this year after serving as the Citizens Information Services and Marketing Manager since March 2021. Key responsibilities include assisting staff in the development of the City’s weekly and monthly newsletters and overall strategic messaging campaigns, as well as assisting with emergency communication messaging. A COR employee for more than 13 years, his first position was as Web Assistant, then Convergence Media Specialist and later as Convergence Media and Marketing Manager.  

Van Beesel has been employed by the City since July of 2000, starting with the Traffic Department and moving to Parks and Recreation eighteen months later. He worked on the Parks irrigation crew prior to becoming a Senior Maintenance Helper on the mowing/litter crew. Since 2002, he has served round-the-clock as the caretaker of the grounds and facilities for the City’s property that includes the Richardson Woman’s Club.

“Letter From Santa” Deadline is Sunday 
Children of all ages can receive a personalized letter from Santa via the City’s annual “Letter from Santa” program. Each letter is addressed specifically to the individual and sent on special stationery.  

Cost per letter is $5. (Fill out and mail in the form found on page two of the Winter Recreation Guide.) No registrations will be taken after Sunday, Dec. 8 to ensure delivery before Christmas Eve.  

IQ^® Brew Next Thursday
The IQ^®HQ, 1302 E. Collins Blvd. 

Admission: Free (RSVP requested here as space is limited) 
Thursday, Dec. 12 
8:30-10 a.m. (Opening remarks begin at 9 a.m.) 

Learn about intellectual property and why it matters at this latest installment of The IQ^® Brew, a free, public series that features coffee, networking and informative presentations. Thursday’s presenter is Manjula Variyam, Principal Attorney at Aambell PC, who will give an overview of intellectual property law (IP) and explore questions such as: What are the different types of IP assets? What are the reasons to protect them? She will go in-depth into IP issues of interest to software companies and also touch on IP implications of artificial intelligence. 

“To Be Like Me” Disability Awareness Program Tomorrow
City Council Chamber, City Hall, 2360 Campbell Creek Blvd., Suite 525
Admission: Free
Saturday, Dec. 7
1-2 p.m. 

During this all-ages lecture, To Be Like Me LEADers (Leaders in Education and Advocacy for Disability) will share their stories of living with disabilities, and answer questions. Through these interactions, the audience will increase their understanding of the challenges and gifts of people with disabilities. 

Join the Swingles for a performance called “Together for the Holidays.” Their seamlessly blended and timeless sound quickly established them as one of the world’s most beloved and admired vocal groups. 

At UT Dallas:

• Graduate Student Arts Exhibition Opens Tomorrow with Free Reception 
  

  SP/N Gallery, 3020 Stewart Rd.
  Admission: Free
  Dec. 7-19
  Special hours 6:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 with free reception;
  Regular hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thursday-Friday 1-6 p.m.

  The public is invited to experience the current work of 16 UT Dallas graduate student artists, including painting, photography, sculpture, video and new media.
  Event link: Click here

• Musica Nova Tomorrow Night 

  University Theatre
  Admission: Free
  Saturday, Dec. 7
  7:30 p.m. 

  Students from the University’s Advanced Orchestra and Chamber Music Ensemble perform the music of Fauré and Beethoven with UT Dallas faculty and other professional musicians, under the direction of composer-conductor Robert Xavier Rodríguez. More information: Click here

• Take care in transporting—if they’re not already in a protective sleeve at purchase, place them in the car where they remain upright, stable and not crushed by any objects. 

• Make sure the soil is draining well and water only when you feel the soil surface is dry. (Be sure to remove any decorative outer foil when watering and make sure plant is finished draining before replacing the foil.) 

• Keep the plant housed in temperatures between 50 and 80 degrees. 

• A fully colored poinsettia needs 6-8 hours of sunlight daily. 

• After the holidays, cut plant back to about 6 inches, repot it into the next largest container, and follow the directions for water, fertilizer, pruning, and nighttime light deprivation (that’s needed each fall), located here.