Dec. 28, 2012
Here 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 events at City Hall.

Gymnastics Center to Open Wednesday

The City of Richardson will celebrate the opening of its new Gymnastics Center at 5 p.m. Wednesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new 14,000-square-foot facility at 300 E. Arapaho Rd. The environmentally-friendly building includes a large gymnasium, viewing area and multipurpose room for meetings and parties.

The Gymnastics Center project was approved by voters through the 2010 Bond Program. It is part of a larger project to build a new Heights Recreation Center and the adjacent Family Aquatics Center.

Lean more about the Gymnastics Center at http://www.cor.net/index.aspx?page=38.

City Holiday Closings 
Due to the New Year's Day holiday, the City of Richardson will alter its solid waste service and close several City facilities according to the schedule outlined below.

Call the Police Department at 972-744-4800 for emergencies
when the Animal Shelter is closed.

Trash and Recycling
There will be NO solid waste pick up or special pick up Tuesday, Jan. 1.

The table below outlines the make-up day for recycling pick up:

City Council Meeting and Work Session Cancelled
In observance of the New Year’s holiday, the Dec. 31 City Council work session has been cancelled. The next City Council meeting is a work session scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7, 2013.

“Tree Cycle” Your Christmas Tree
Many Christmas trees are thrown away at the end of every holiday season, wasting potential uses of the trees and vital landfill space. Instead, the City of Richardson encourages residents to mulch their unflocked Christmas trees.

Through Jan. 31, Richardson residents may “tree cycle” their Christmas trees by dropping them off at the Municipal Service Center, 1260 Columbia Dr. The site is open 24 hours seven days a week. Residents may also call 972-744-4111 to request a Brush and Bulky Item Collection (BABIC), then set the tree out at the front curb for collection.

All trees must be natural and unflocked, with all ornaments, tinsel, lights and other decorative items removed. Calls for BABIC must be received before the designated collection day (your BABIC day is the same as your recycling day).

Recycle Holiday Boxes
The City of Richardson Public Services Department and the Richardson Police Department have teamed up to help fight crime and recycle at the same time. Instead of putting your new computer or flat screen TV box out for pick-up, recycle and prevent crime.

Temporary recycle locations will be available through Jan. 4 at:
• Custer Park, 700 W. Renner Rd. (near the tennis courts)
• Recycle Center, 102. N. Cottonwood Dr.
• 1500 Apollo Rd. (near the Huffhines Tennis Center courts)
• Breckinridge Park, 5200 Park Vista Rd. (near the baseball complex)

If you prefer to throw the boxes away, place them inside a black bag so you do not advertise that you have a new computer or TV in your home.

For more information, contact the Richardson Police Department at 972-744-4955.

Santa’s Village Lights Still On
Santa’s Village has officially closed for the season, but the lights will remain on at the 17 tiny dwellings until Wednesday. Families are welcome to visit the village and take photos or enjoy the holiday decorations.

Santa’s Village is located to the north of City Hall, 411 W. Arapaho Rd. For more information, visit www.cor.net/index.aspx?page=1303.

Pegasus Theatre to Perform XSR:Die! at Eisemann Center
Pegasus Theatre will present “XSR:Die!” at 8 p.m. Dec. 29-31 and Jan. 3-5 and 3 p.m. Jan. 5 and 6 at the Eisemann Center. The show's run will continue through Jan. 20. The murder mystery show uses special effects to appear like a black and white movie.

Tickets cost $20 to $35 for most shows and are available at www.eisemanncenter.com or by calling 972-744-4650. The Dec. 31 show costs $50, which includes cake and champagne in the lobby after the performance.

For more information, visit www.pegasustheatre.org.

DART Announces Holiday Schedule

Many DART services will be unavailable or will operate on a limited schedule Jan. 1. DART buses and light rail will run on a Sunday schedule on New Year’s Day. Administrative offices will be closed.

Special service will be added for the Big D NYE celebration at Victory Station. DART rail will operate a regular weekday schedule until midnight. Trains will then operate every 30 minutes until 2 a.m. At the conclusion of the fireworks display, additional service will be operated on the Orange and Red Line headed to Richardson.

The DART Customer Information Center will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. New Year’s Eve and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. New Year’s Day. For more information, call 214-979-1111 or visit www.dart.org.

DART to Offer Service to Heart of Dallas Bowl
DART is offering service to the inaugural Heart of Dallas Bowl, featuring a gridiron matchup between Purdue University and Oklahoma State University at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 1, at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Fair Park.

Richardson residents can take the Red Line south to the Pearl Station and transfer to the Green Line to reach the Cotton Bowl. The venue is accessible from the Fair Park and MLK, Jr. stations.

A local day pass costs $5 and may be purchased with cash or credit card at all DART stations. For more information, call 214-979-1111. 

Richardson Animal Shelter Pet of the Week
This is Otis. He is a sweet puppy dog that came to the Shelter Dec. 1. He is a neutered male Lab, Pit Bull mix. He is such a sweety! He is only 6 months old, fully vaccinated, and loves to play fetch. Contact the Animal Shelter (972-744-4480) about Otis or other animals available for adoption.
 

For information about other animals available for adoption, visit the Animal Shelter’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RichardsonAnimalShelter. 

Related Links
City Council videos: http://bit.ly/LSHJzE
City Council agenda: http://bit.ly/QoOWF4
City Council meeting documents: http://bit.ly/OrSIQ2

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