Irving News in Brief - June 29 2011

Trash Collection Holiday: In observance of Independence Day, there will be no residential trash, curbside recycling or brush collection on July 4. In addition, the following facilities will be closed:

All offices and services will resume normal business hours July 5.

Independence Day Events: The Irving community will come together for A Tribute to the United States Presidents at the following city-sponsored Independence Day events July 4. All are welcome. For more information, call (972) 721-2501.

New Irrigation Guidelines: Through Oct. 31, watering must occur before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Previously, the city relied entirely on its Drought Contingency Plan for irrigation standards. Stage 1 of the city’s plan, which began May 15, involves voluntary watering no more than twice per week, according to the following schedule:

Until mid-July, those watering during restricted hours will receive warnings. After that time, those who violate the city ordinance are subject to fines up to $2,000.

Document Shredding: Residents are invited to a free document shredding event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 8 at the drop-off recycling center located at 3000 Rock Island Road. City-sponsored shredding events provide residents with an opportunity to have up to two boxes of documents destroyed at no cost. For more information, call Solid Waste Services at (972) 721-8059.

Planting with Native Grasses: Registration is being accepted for the class, Planting with Native Grasses, scheduled for 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. July 9 at the Garden and Arts Center, 906 S. Senter Road. Students will learn how to incorporate native grasses into their landscapes. Register for Planting with Native Grasses.

Ask the Budget Guy: To enhance transparency and provide the community with accurate information regarding financial matters, the City of Irving offers residents direct access to the “Budget Guy.” Ask the Budget Guy questions regarding the FY 2011-12 budget by sending an email to knowthefacts@cityofirving.org. The Budget Guy will respond to all questions and post answers to the city’s Ask the Budget Guy webpage. Submittals are subject to editing for content, tone and clarity. All submissions will be posted anonymously.

 Water Playgrounds: The Northwest and Southwest Spray Parks are now open to the community. Both free access spray parks operate by motion and touch sensors from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Northwest Park is located at 2800 Cheyenne St. and Southwest Park is located at 2800 Shady Grove Road. The facilities include various types of ground spray jets, dump buckets and interactive spray nozzles. Both facilities offer shade canopies, seating, picnic tables and restrooms. View ICTN story of residents enjoying the new spray parks on YouTube.

 

 

Summer Reading Clubs: The Irving Public Library is hosting Summer Reading Clubs for children, teens and adults through July 31. While supplies last, participants will have the chance to win prizes for reading. Summer Reading Clubs are being organized at all library locations. For more information, call (972) 721-2608 or get details online.

 

Cat Adoption Special: Through Aug. 26, the Irving Animal Care Campus (IACC), 4140 Valley View Lane, is sponsoring a Free Feline Friday promotion where cats 6 months and older are available for free adoptions every Friday in June (limit two cats per household, please). Cats will be vaccinated, microchipped, and spayed/neutered or come with a voucher for free sterilization. For more information, call (972) 721-2256.

 

 

Genghis Khan Exhibit: Through Sept. 30, the Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., is hosting Genghis Khan: The Exhibition. Attendees will relive Khan’s epic rise to power. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children. Discounts are available for groups, seniors and Art Connection members. To purchase tickets, visit www.khanirving.com or call (972) 252-2787. View ICTN footage from Gengis Khan: The Exhibition on YouTube. 

 

 

Emergency Notification System: Sign up for iALERT, Irving’s free emergency notification system, and be among the first to receive warnings and notices regarding local crises or emergencies. In the event of a situation that may pose a threat to the public, iALERT will provide subscribers with safety information or instruction via phone, email or text. Sign up for iALERT today.

 

 

Drip Irrigation Class: A Drip Irrigation class will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. July 26 at Valley Ranch Library, 401 Cimarron Trail. This class is designed for those who want to self-install a drip irrigation system or anyone wanting knowledge on selecting a drip irrigation method for a professional to install. Register for this educational opportunity.

 

 

Volunteer Opportunity: The Irving Arts Center is seeking nominations for volunteers to service on the Advisory Grant Review Panel starting in September. Volunteers may be nominated by colleagues or apply at www.irvingartscenter.com under the “Get Involved” section. Deadline for nominations is Aug. 1. For more information, call (972) 252-4403.

 

 

Keep Irving Beautiful Ornaments: KIB is selling official Keep Texas Beautiful holiday ornaments for $20 each. For more information or to purchase an ornament, call (972) 721-2175

 

 

Night Hike Along Campión Trails: Enjoy an evening hike from 8 to 10 p.m. July 22 at Bird’s Fort Trail Park, 5756 Riverside Drive. Along the way, participants will learn about the world of animals that call Irving home. Register for the Night Hike on Campión Trails.

 

 

Communication Survey: A communication survey has been developed and posted to the city website to obtain input from residents about the communication tools used to promote city services and programs. Residents can provide input on the “City Spectrum” newsletter, Irving Community Television Network and designate what types of information they find important. The survey can be found at www.cityofirving.org/publicinput.