Message from the Mayor

I hope everyone enjoyed their Labor Day weekend. A long weekend with family and friends is always a good thing. With luck, this holiday also marks an end to the dog days of summer, and we can look forward to some more moderate temperatures.

SCHOOL IS IN SESSION! Please be mindful when driving thru our school zones. The safety of our children is far more important than that phone call or text message. Be mindful of the school buses when they stop to pick up or drop off students. And it doesn't hurt to give a wave to our crossing guards who do a great job in all kinds of weather watching out for our children.

For those that do not know, our library has received accreditation from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. This accreditation allows us to participate in numerous statewide and Federal programs as well as the added ability to apply for state competitive grants. Hats off to Lana Ewell and her staff. GREAT JOB!

Last but not least a reminder that we are having "Art in the Park" September 23^rd. Come enjoy the evening walking with the Mayor. For more information go to the Recreation Department Face Book page.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP

5:30 PM

REGULAR MEETING
6:30 PM

CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS
7105 WHITLEY ROAD

Monthly Brush & Bulky Item Pickup

Brush and Bulky item collection will occur once per month. If your trash pickup day is:

Monday or Tuesday - 1^st Monday of the month.
Wednesday - 2^nd Monday of the month.
Thursday - 3^rd Monday of the month.
Friday - 4^th Monday of the month.

Items must be placed out at curb no later than 7 a.m. on that Monday. Pick up will be start Monday and continue through Wednesday.

Bulk items include stoves, furniture, water heaters, dishwashers, etc. Fence panels must be cut down to 4x6 sections or smaller. Loose pickets are required to be tied and bundled.

Unacceptable materials include dirt, sand, concrete, rocks, gravel, bricks, lumber, plaster, construction materials, auto parts, tires, petroleum products, refrigerators and/or freezers.

Brush is required to be cut down to 4ft in length, not to exceed 50 lbs. in weight and stacked. The pile must not be larger than 5X5X5.

Hazardous waste such as paint, batteries, thinners or pesticides.

Call to schedule a pickup at 972-440-2040 or visit www.hhwsolutions.com select (Schedule a Pickup) tab, then (Watauga). Enter name, address, phone number and indicate what items you will have. Next collection day will be displayed with item instructions.

Recycling Information

Plastics
Number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 7 plastics can be recycled in your recycle bin. Milk jugs, liter bottles, shampoo bottles, etc. No plastic bottles that have contained oil or petroleum by-products. All must be rinsed out.

Glass
All colors of glass bottles can be recycled. Bottles only. No plate glass, ceramic or mirrors.

Metal
All metal food and beverage cans can be recycled. All cans must be rinsed out.

Newspaper, Catalogs and Magazines
Can all be recycled in your recycle bin.

For additional carts, please call 817-514-5705. If you have any question or concerns, please call the City of Watauga at 817.514.5705 or Waste Connections at 817.222.2221.

Digtal audiobooks are now the fastest growing book format according to the Association of American Publishers (AAP). It is not just eAudiobook sales that are showing growth. Overdrive, a company which provides a digital eBook and eAudiobook distribution system for public libraries, indicates that checkouts/circulation of digital audiobooks have significantly increased.

Listeners are finding that most of the new books that come out are getting the audio treatment and publishers are redoubling their efforts for their backlist by notable authors.

The average digital title costs between $15 to $60, which can be very expensive on a daily or weekly basis. So the public library is an important (and economically advantageous) source of audiobooks. These can be downloaded to your phone, iPad, Kindle and other devices. One recent study found that 74% of audiobook listeners prefer using their smartphones.

The Watauga Public Library has two eAudiobook sources for users, Overdrive and RBdigital. Check on the library webpage, or call 817.514.5865 for more information.

The Library also has a large selection of books on CD for those that prefer that format.

Sources:
https://www.cowtx.org/898/Library

https://goodereader.com/blog/audiobooks/good-e-reader-global-audiobook-report-for-2019

https://goodereader.com/blog/audiobooks/74-of-audiobook-listeners-prefer-smartphones

https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamrowe1/2019/04/27/for-the-first-time-50-of-americans-have-listened-to-an-audiobook/#29c4dd17d524

https://www.geekwire.com/2018/listen-digital-audiobooks-now-fastest-growing-format-tech-titles-improve/

Dallas Black Dance Theatre Comes to Watauga!

The Dallas Black Dance Theatre is the oldest, continuously operating professional dance company in Dallas. The company's mission is to create and produce contemporary modern dance at its highest level of artistic excellence through performances and educational programs that bridge cultures and reach diverse communities. The library is excited to offer this free performance from these world class dancers. Please join us Thursday, September 12th from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. This performance is brought to you by Arts Council Northeast and the City of Watauga. All ages welcome!

Play Pickleball with a Pro!

SEPTEMBER 11, 2019

Ran by Wisconsin's #1 women's pickleball player, KaSandra Gehrke, this clinic is for any player who would like to improve their strategies, skills, and knowledge of the game to ultimately take their game to the next level.

KASANDRA MARIE PICKLEBALL CLINICS (12 PERSON MAX)

Wednesday 10:30-12:30PM & 5:00-7:00PM
$40 per person for a 2 hour clinic

PLAY WITH THE PRO PRIVATE LESSON (Please sign up with a group of 3-4)

Wednesday 1:00-2:30PM
Wednesday 3:00-4:30PM
$50 per person for an hour and a half private lesson

To register: Kasandramariepickleball@gmail.com

KIDFISH Fishing Derby & Family Camp Out
September 13, 2019 at 6:30 PM

Come out to Watauga's Capp Smith Park to enjoy a fun evening with the family, fishing and camping out under the stars! Poles and bait will be provided, or feel free to bring your own. This year we've added archery, courtesy of Cowtown Bowmen Archery Club! This free event is open to all! Food trucks will be onsite throughout the evening. Don't forget to bring your tent and camping gear!

KIDFISH is an outreach program designed to educate and provide hands-on fishing experiences for children 16 and younger.

More information can be found on the website or Facebook event.

*Registration is required for overnight campers. Space is limited.

Questions? Call 817.514.5828

Meows and Howls

WHERE: Animal Services Center, 5203 Watauga Road
WHEN: Saturday, September 14, 2019, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Texas Coalition for Animal Protection (T.C.A.P.) is joining us to provide low cost vaccinations and other various pet services, prices start at $5.00.

For more information, visit https://www.cowtx.org/1358/Services

Clear the Shelters a Success!

NBC and Telemundo owned stations partnered with 69 North Texas Animal Shelters including Watauga Animal Services to offer free pet adoptions for the thousands of homeless pets that enter shelters each year.

2019 was our 5th year to participate in Clear the Shelters. We began our day with 32 adoptable animals and we successfully placed 31 of those animals into new homes. The one remaining Heartworm Positive dog was adopted the following Monday thanks to The Duke and Oliver Foundation who sponsored his Heartworm treatments.

An event of this magnitude would not be possible without the support of the Watauga Police Department, VIPS and the thousands of Watauga Animal Services Facebook followers who took the time to share our event and animal posts. Thank you for helping us give these pets a second chance!

Public Meeting - Senior Crimes Luncheon & Community Center Open House

On September 23^rd the Parks & Community Services Department invites all Watauga citizens to a luncheon at the Active Adult Center for a lecture on Senior Crimes presented by the Watauga Police Department. The luncheon begins at 11:00 AM. To reserve your spot at this free luncheon, please RSVP by Friday, September 20, 2019 to Vickie Atchley at 817.514.5892.

Art in the Park

Join us for a fun and informative evening at the Hector F. Garcia Community Center. Watauga's Mayor, Art Miner, will kick off the evening by taking a walk in the park with anyone who would like to participate. This 1/2 mile walk will begin at 6:00 PM. The remainder of the evening will be spent inside the Hector F. Garcia Community Center, where you can find recreational information that showcases classes, programs, and special events that the Community Center and Active Adult Center has to offer. Included on the agenda is Senior Chair Volleyball: Staff vs Seniors, karaoke, and much more!

Operation Clear Track

In partnership with Operation Lifesaver, Watauga Police Department will participate in a new collaborative rail safety effort designed to save lives by alerting the public to the dangers of being inattentive at rail grade crossings and along the railroad right-of-way. Railway crossing and trespassing incidents across the United States tragically injure or kill more than 2,100 people each year.

As part of the week-long Social Media observance, Watauga will mobilize Operation Clear Track on Tuesday, September 24, 2019. On this day, Traffic Officers will conduct a directed traffic enforcement operation focusing on railroad related violations specific to the Denton Highway and Watauga Road railroad crossing.

To learn more about railway safety, visit our Facebook page during Rail Safety Week, September 22 - 28, 2019.

Watauga's Scared to Run is back!

Join forces with the City of Watauga for our superhero themed 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run September 28, 2019. Registration is open! You can register at the Hector F. Garcia Community Center or online at www.quickscores.com/watauga.

This special event benefits Shoes for Kids and Sertoma Club of Watauga. Sertoma's signature project is Shoes for Kids. Some activities, such as physical education and band, require students to have special shoes, which some families can't afford. Sertoma provides schools with funds to purchase the needed shoes for their students. They also fund a stock of basic clothing items for emergencies.

Please visit our website or Facebook for more information.