Resident Survey Opportunity: Residents were selected at random to complete the 2011 Resident Survey. Those who did not receive the survey have an opportunity to provide input on city services online through Oct. 12. Feedback will help city leaders improve the overall quality of life for the Irving community. Complete the 2011 Resident Survey online.
Big Read Celebration: Irving residents are invited to escape back into childhood during the city’s sixth annual Big Read. The monthlong celebration will commence with The Big Twain Thang, an old-fashioned country fair, from noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 1 at the West Irving Library, 4444 W. Rochelle Road. View a complete list of Big Read activities online.
Heritage House Tours: Enjoy an up-close look at Irving historyfrom 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 2 at Irving Heritage House 303 S. O’Connor Road. Built in 1912 by C.P. Schulze, brother of one of the cofounders of Irving, J.O. Schulze, the house was designated as a Texas State Historical Landmark in 1986. Admission is free and docent-led tours will be available at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Group tours also may be arranged at alternate times. For more information, visit www.irvingheritage.com or call (972) 252-3838.
Trail Dedication: The city is hosting a dedication ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 5 for Sam Houston Trail, 101 E. Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway (Interstate 635). RSVP to Parks and Recreation at (972) 721-2501 by Sept. 30. In the event of inclement weather, call (972) 994-1120 after 7 a.m. for alternate arrangements. View Sam Houston Trail Dedication Invitation.
Outdoor Warning System Test: The Irving Outdoor Warning System will be tested at 1 p.m. Oct. 5. The Outdoor Warning System for the City of Irving consists of 25 sirens located throughout the city. The sirens are activated from the Irving Fire Department alarm office to warn of severe weather. The monthly test is to ensure that the system is fully operational and also to remind residents about the Outdoor Warning System and how it sounds.
Job Fair: The Irving Public Library’s Job Center will host a job fair from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Irving Central Library, 801 W. Irving Blvd. Recruiters from local companies will meet with job seekers to discuss employment openings, collect résumés and schedule interviews. For more information, call (972) 721?2326.
ICTN Milestone: This year, Irving Community Television Network (ICTN) will celebrate three decades of programming excellence. In recognition of this milestone, Mayor Beth Van Duyne and other city leaders will gather for a reception at 6 p.m. Oct. 6 at City Hall, 825 W. Irving Blvd. View vintage clips from ICTN’s early days on YouTube.
Shredding Event: A community shredding event has been scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 7 at the drop-off recycling center located at 3000 Rock Island Road. Shredding events provide residents with an opportunity to have sensitive documents properly destroyed and also offer residents an easy way to conserve resources by recycling paper.
Ms. Mature Irving: Seven local ladies will compete for the title and crown of Ms. Mature Irving during a special pageant at 7 p.m. Oct. 14 in Carpenter Performance Hall at the Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd. Advance tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children age 12 and under. Tickets the day of the pageant are $12 for adults and $10 for children. For more information, call the Heritage Senior Center at (972) 721-2496.
Town Hall Meeting: City staff will present an overview on this past fiscal year’s accomplishments at a Resident Town Hall Meeting set for 7 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas, 500 W. Las Colinas Blvd. Residents can come early for self-guided tours of the convention center from 5 to 7 p.m. Residents who are unable to attend this year’s meeting can listen to the presentations and ask questions via telephone by calling (888) 886-6603, ext. 17297#.
Hiking Opportunity: Explore the nighttime world of animals at Campión Trails with native species experts from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 21 at Bird’s Fort Trail, 5757 Riverside Drive. Participants should bring a flashlight. This night hike will begin with a special Halloween activity from 7 to 8 p.m. Register for the Night Hike at Campión Trails.
Urban Farming Workshop: An Urban Farming Workshop is being held from 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 29 at the Senter East Building, 228 Chamberlain St. This workshop will provide individuals with information about how to live sustainably in an urban setting. Topics to be discussed include organic vegetable gardening, raising chickens and alternatives to household chemicals. Register for the Urban Farming Workshop.
Prescription Drug Collection Day: Residents can properly dispose of controlled pharmaceutical substances from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 29 at Irving Mall (near Dillard’s), 3880 Irving Mall, and at Walmart, 1635 Market Place Blvd. For more information, contact Sgt. Joe Palomar at (972) 721-2545.
Online Crime Reports: The Irving Police Department is partnering with www.crimereports.com to allow residents to view crime data online. The crime-mapping website compiles information on crimes that have occurred in Irving by incident type, time and location, and marks them on a map of the city. To access the map, visit www.cityofirving.org/police and select “CrimeReports” at the bottom of the page. For more information, call (972) 721-3515.
Irrigation Basics: The class, Irrigation Basics, will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 15 at Valley View Municipal Complex, 333 Valley View Lane. Participants will learn how to maintain, test and conduct minor repairs on irrigation systems. Register for Irrigation Basics online.
