2008-09 Budget Process
Lewisville taxpayers will be able to participate in the city’s 2008-09 budget process during two public hearings in September before the new budget and property tax rate are approved on September 29^th. The City Manager submitted his proposed budget to City Council on July 21. Copies are available for public viewing at the Public Library, 1197 W. Main Street, and the City Secretary’s Office inside City Hall, 151 W. Church Street. A budget workshop was held on August 16, 2008. City Council will conduct a public hearing on the proposed budget during its regularly scheduled September 8 meeting at Lewisville City Hall, 151 W. Church Street. A second public hearing will be conducted during the regularly scheduled September 15 City Council meeting. The council is expected to adopt the budget and tax rate at a special called meeting on September 29. For more information on speaking at the budget public hearing, call the City Secretary’s Office at 972.219.3413.

Municipal Annex Wildflower Landscape Wins Award
The Municipal Annex circle-drive wildflower landscape that is maintained by the Parks staff was recognized as the Keep Lewisville Beautiful Business Yard of the Month for July. The area was selected for its beautiful smartscape landscaping that enhances the community while conserving resources. A picture of the garden is on the Keep Lewisville Beautiful website at info@keeplewisvillebeautiful.org.

Summer Reading Club Concludes
Summer Reading Club 2008 wrapped up last week. A total of 2,720 pre-school, elementary and teen youth registered, an increase of 2% above 2007.

Library to Celebrate 40^th Anniversary
Celebrate the 40^th Anniversary of the Lewisville Public Library on Sunday, September 14, 2008, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cindy Bennett, Library Director from 1968–1999 will speak about the library’s origins and early history at 2:45 p.m.

Sewer and Water Construction
The westbound lanes of Bellaire Boulevard between Live Oak and Sweetgum will be closed to traffic for sewer and water construction at Auburn Drive. Traffic will be diverted into the eastbound lanes (one lane in each direction) for a period of seven days beginning Monday, August 18.

Health Officials Confirm West Nile Virus in Local Mosquito Pool
The Texas Department of Health has notified Lewisville officials that samples taken from a local mosquito pool tested positive for West Nile Virus, the first such positive test in the city this year. City officials have been using mosquito traps in order to determine if the virus is present in the local insect population. The positive sample was collected July 24 in the Purgatory Pass area in the far northwest corner of the city. Additional testing and control measures are being planned for the area around the positive sample site.

Health officials say that the positive test should serve as a reminder to residents that they should attempt to avoid or limit exposure to mosquito bites. The Texas Department of Health recommends four steps:

· Try to stay indoors at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes tend to be most active.
· Dress in long sleeves and pants when outdoors.
· Use repellent containing the active ingredient Deet when going into areas where mosquitoes might be active.
· Drain standing water from such sources as tires, flowerpots, clogged rain gutters, cans, buckets and ground depressions. These are prime mosquito breeding areas.

Residents also are encouraged to report standing water on city-maintained property by calling Lewisville Animal Control at 972.219.3478.

The Texas Department of Health operates a toll-free WNV information line in both English and Spanish at 888.883.9997, and has expanded information posted on its Web site at www.dshs.state.tx.us. Denton County Health Department also has information about West Nile virus at 940.349.2909, or on the Web at www.dentoncounty.com.heart.

Parade Applications Available for Western Day Festival
Applications are being accepted from anyone wanting to participate in the Western Day parade during the festival being held Saturday, September 27, in Old Town Lewisville. Parade start time is 3 p.m. Applications are available on the city’s Web site, www.cityoflewisville.com, or by calling 972.219.3401. Festival volunteers also are needed.

Canine Swimmers Invited to Special Event at Sun Valley Pool
Lewisville Parks and Leisure Services will hold Doggie Dive-In at Sun Valley Aquatic Park on Saturday, September 6, from 9:30 a.m. to noon. A morning full of fun canine activities is planned, including contests and prizes. Proof of current vaccinations must be presented upon check-in on the day of the event. Only dogs will be permitted in the water. For more information, contact either the Civic Circle Recreation Center at 972.219.3560 or Memorial Park Recreation Center at 972.219.5061. Cost is $4 per dog and space is limited to 400 dogs.

Teen Court to Hold Volunteer Training
The Lewisville-Flower Mound Teen Court will hold a volunteer training session for teens and adults on Saturday, September 6, at the Lewisville Municipal Annex, 1197 W. Main Street. Students ages 13 to 17, or still in high school, are eligible to volunteer as attorneys, bailiffs, judges or jurors. Adult volunteers are needed in a variety of capacities. The training will be from 9:30 a.m. until approximately 3 p.m., and lunch will be provided. For information, visit www.cityoflewisville.com or www.flower-mound.com and click on “courts,” or call Teen Court Coordinator Anne Dubinsky at 972.219.3671.

Teen Court is an alternative, voluntary program that offers young offenders an opportunity to make restitution for an offense through community service, specialized classes and jury service, thus avoiding fines and keeping the juvenile’s record clear. By bringing the teens before a jury of their peers, the program seeks to prevent unlawful behavior while providing direct experience in the judiciary system.

Citizens Police Academy Accepting Applications
The Lewisville Citizens Police Academy, the closest civilians can come to the men and women in blue, short of pursuing a badge of their own, is accepting applications for its 2008 class that starts on September 4. The free 13-week program includes instruction and training experiences from the classroom to the firing range. Since 1989, dozens of Lewisville residents have gained a better understanding of local law enforcement efforts through the program.

“As both an instructor and program coordinator, I’m always pleased to see the students’ excitement and enthusiasm each and every week,” said Lewisville Police Training Coordinator Scott Pedigo. “At the conclusion of each class, I’m always overwhelmed by the appreciation of the students. It seems that most don’t want their involvement in the program to end.”

Classes are held on Thursday evenings, and there are Saturday sessions on October 11 and October 18. Graduation will be December 4. After completing the class, many graduates join the CPA Alumni Association and volunteer with the department in a variety of capacities. Alumni also are eligible to ride with patrol officers as observers.

For information on the next class, scheduled to begin in September, call Training Coordinator Scott Pedigo at 972.219.3608. Participants must be at least 18 years old before classes begin and either live or work in Lewisville. Class space is limited, so those interested in participating should apply as soon as possible. Applications can be obtained at the Lewisville Police Department, can be mailed to applicants, or can be downloaded from www.cityoflewisville.com.

Music, Food and Family Fun Abound at Western Day 2008
There will be plenty to see, do and taste for fun-seekers of all ages at the popular Western Day festival Saturday, September 27, in Old Town Lewisville. Headliner for this year’s event is the Eli Young Band, scheduled to perform at 6:30-8 p.m.

Other planned activities at Western Day 2008, designed to showcase Lewisville’s rich history, include a Main Street parade, two festival stages of live music, arts and crafts vendors, gunfight re-enactments, trick ropers, car show, Longhorn cattle drive, Tailwaggers Ranch, baking and grilling contests, Stickhorse Rodeo for kids, and the fourth annual World Tamale Eating Championship. Free shuttle parking will be available at Lewisville High School, 1098 W. Main Street, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Western Day activities (including a children’s area, craft vendors, live music, and Western-style re-enactments and demonstrations) will start at 10 a.m. and end with the Eli Young Band concert. Other scheduled performers on the main stage include Derek Sholl at 2 p.m. and Casey Donahew at 4:30 p.m.

Some festival-goers will get an earlier start to their day, however, with the first Old Town Business Association 5K Fun Run, being held to raise money for American Cancer Society in memory of longtime Lewisville resident Wayne Ferguson. The run will start at 7 a.m. and follow a path through Old Town, ending before the opening Western Day activities. Entry fee is $25 prior to September 1, or $35 thereafter. On-site registration will start at 6 a.m. in Wayne Ferguson Plaza, on the north side of Main Street at Poydras. For information, e-mail funrun@tracyscakes.com.

An exhibition Vintage Base Ball game between Lewisville and Farmers Branch will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Lewisville Rodeo Grounds in Mill Street, just north of College Street. Free shuttles will be available from the festival zone. Vintage Base Ball is played using 19^th century rules and equipment. This exhibition will be played under the 1860s rules, with no gloves and underhand pitching. Spectators (commonly called “cranks” or “rooters” during the 1860s) are welcome. For more information about Vintage Base Ball, visit www.vbbtexas.org.

The World Tamale Eating Championship, an official International Federation of Competitive Eating event, will grant a $1,500 grand prize to the competitor who downs the most Dallas Tortilla & Tamale Factory tamales in 12 minutes. It will start at 1 p.m. on the front steps of Lewisville City Hall. Last year’s event featured a world record of 71 tamales in 12 minutes consumed by two-time champion Tim Janus of New York, currently ranked fourth in the world by IFOCE. Registration is conducted by the IFOCE through its website, www.ifoce.com.

The popular Western Day Parade will begin at 3 p.m. The one-mile parade route runs from Cowen Street east on Main Street to Mill Street, then south to DeLay Middle School. Parade applications are available at www.cityoflewisville.com.

Greater Lewisville Kiwanis Club will hold two Stickhorse Rodeo events, each offering genuine Nocona belt buckles to the top three finishers in three age divisions through second-graders. The rodeos will be held at noon and 5 p.m., with registration starting half an hour in advance. Also during the festival, The Home Depot will offer stick-horse making for kids.

The 13^th annual Lewisville Morning Rotary Club Car Truck & Cycle Show, open to all years and makes of vehicles, will be staged on Mill and Main streets throughout the day. Registration is 9 to 11 a.m., judging will be 11 a.m.-noon, and trophies will be awarded in four categories. Entry fee is $20 per vehicle ($10 with a valid student ID), with a discount for early registration before September 1, and the first 75 entrants receive a dash plaque and other gifts. Proceeds benefit Christian Community Action, Adopt-a-School, Rotary Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and other community charities. For information, call (972) 436-6258 or visit www.lewisvillemorningrotary.com.

Tailwaggers Ranch returns to Western Day with a variety of pet-related activities and vendors including displays and demonstrations from more than a dozen animal rescue and support groups. Contests for pets and their owners will be held at three times during the day. There also will be service dog demonstrations by Gifted Animal Program, and a free Doggie Yoga (DOGA) class for dogs and their owners conducted by Blue Anjou studio.

Old Town Preservation Society will raise money for restoration work at the historic Lane Chapel CME Church on Hembry Street by holding a kids pie-eating contest at 11 a.m. and a cake contest at 1 p.m., both at the Lewisville Feed Mill on the corner of Main Street and Kealy Street. Entry fees are $5 for the cake contest and $1 for pie-eating entrants. For contest rules and entry forms, e-mail jackbethramsey@verizon.net

Grill aficionados will have a chance to fire up their best offerings in the inaugural Great Western Burger Battle hamburger grilling contest, sponsored by Tierney’s Café & Tavern at the corner of Main Street and Kealy Street. The contest will be held at the restaurant starting at 4:30 p.m., and registration is limited. The cook whose burger is rated highest by the judges will receive a $500 cash prize. Entry information will be posted at www.tierneyscafeandtavern.com.

Concurrent with Western Day, the Big Bass Tour will hold its inaugural Ego Energy Drink North Texas Classic at Lewisville Lake on Sept. 27-28. Based at Lake Park, this popular event comes to Lewisville for the first time, offering amateur anglers the chance to compete for dozens of prizes while enjoying the waters of the official “Urban Bass Fishing Capital of Texas.” The angler who catches the biggest bass during each hour of the competition will win a cash prize, and the largest overall fish will capture a 2008 Nissan Titan from Avery Johnson’s North Texas Nissan. For event information, visit www.bigbasstour.com.

Sponsors for Western Day 2008 include City of Lewisville, Lewisville Convention and Visitors Bureau, EMC Mortgage , Pro Tow, Bud Light, Big Bass Tour, Waste Management of Texas, The Home Depot, Dallas Tortilla & Tamale Factory and 99.5 The Wolf. Community supporters include Old Town Business Association, Old Town Preservation Society, Lewisville Morning Rotary Club, Greater Lewisville Kiwanis Club and Lewisville High School.

For additional information and the latest on Western Day 2008, visit www.cityoflewisville.com or call 972.219.3401.

General Entertainment schedule:
7 a.m. OTBA 5K Fun Run
9:30 a.m. Vintage Base Ball Exhibition: Lewisville vs. Farmers Branch
11 a.m. OTPS Kids Pie Eating Contest
Noon Greater Lewisville Kiwanis Club Stickhorse Rodeo
1 p.m. World Tamale Eating Championship
1 p.m. OTPS Annual Cake Contest
3 p.m. Western Day Parade & Longhorn Cattle Drive
3 p.m. Lewisville Morning Rotary Club Car Show awards
4:30 p.m. Great Western Burger Battle
5 p.m. Greater Lewisville Kiwanis Club Stickhorse Rodeo

Main Stage performance schedule:
10 a.m. Dallas Stars Sing
10:45 a.m. Glad Dance Troop
11:25 a.m. Beyond Words with Vaughn Anthony
12:30 p.m. Dancers in Motion
2 p.m. Derek Sholl
4:30 p.m. Casey Donahew
6:30 p.m. Eli Young Band

Community Stage performance schedule:
10:15 a.m. YMCA Kickers
10:50 a.m. Dance Fusion
11:15 a.m. Double Team
11:35 a.m. Macedonia Youth Dance Team
Noon Crown Violet Belly Dance Troupe
12:45 p.m. Karen Kouassi
1:30 p.m. Performing Artists Network
2:35 p.m. Millennium Dancers
4:30 p.m. Excite! Dance Company
5:30 p.m. The Fiddle Rascals
6:55 p.m. Megan Mason band

Tailwaggers Ranch schedule of events
10 a.m. DOGA Doggie Yoga by Blue Anjou
10:30 a.m. Gifted Animal Program service dog demonstration
11 a.m. Doggie Contests – Waggiest Tail, Best Dressed, Most Kissable
Noon Gifted Animal Program service dog demonstration
12:30 p.m. Doggie Contests – Waggiest Tail, Best Trick, Best Bark
2 p.m. Gifted Animal Program service dog demonstration
2:30 p.m. Doggie Contests – Waggiest Tail, Owner Look Alike, Most Kissable


August Meetings & Events

August 18 City Council Meeting
August 19 CDBG Meeting-CANCELLED
August 19 Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting
August 20 Library Board Meeting
August 23 Old Town Farmers Market
August 25 Old Town Design Review Committee Meeting
August 30 Old Town Farmers Market

September Meetings & Events

September 1 Labor Day – Offices Closed
September 2 Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting
September 3 Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting
September 6 Old Town Farmers Market
September 8 City Council Meeting
September 8 Old Town Design Review Committee Meeting
September 10 Park Board Meeting
September 13 2^nd SaturdayCollection Day
September 13 Old Town Farmers Market
September 15 City Council Meeting
September 16 Sounds of Lewisville Fall Concert
September 16 CDBG Meeting
September 16 Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting
September 17 Library Board Meeting
September 20 Old Town Farmers Market
September 22 Old Town Design Review Committee Meeting
September 23 Sounds of Lewisville Fall Concert
September 27 Old Town Farmers Market
September 27 Western Day Festival
September 30 Sounds of Lewisville Fall Concert