Want an inside look of North Richland Hills Public Safety operations? Sign up for one of our upcoming citizen academies. The Citizens Police Academy will meet on Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., from February 1 through April 26. The Citizens Fire Academy will meet on Tuesdays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. from March 20 through May 15. There is no cost to participate, but space is limited. Find more information and online registration forms at www.nrhtx.com/CPA and www.nrhtx.com/CFA.

New York Times  bestselling author Melanie Benjamin will visit the library on Friday, January 19 to release her newest book Girls in the Picture. Ms. Benjamin is the author of the bestselling historical novels The Swans of Fifth Avenue, about Truman Capote and his society swans, and The Aviator's Wife, a novel about Anne Morrow Lindbergh. 

Lea Berman, former Social Secretary to George W. and Laura Bush, will visit the library on Friday, January 26 to release a book she co-authored with Barack and Michelle Obama's former Social Secretary, Jeremy Bernard, titled Treating People Well. This non-fiction book is a guide to personal and professional empowerment through civility and social skills, and offers an important fundamental message-everyone is important and everyone deserves to be treated well. 

Each Behind the Book event includes a ticketed reception from Noon-12:45 p.m. and a free speaking event at 1:00 p.m. A book signing will immediately follow. Please visit library.nrhtx.com/BehindtheBook or call 817-427-6800 for more information.

Public Safety is one of the city's top priorities. A recent report by WFAA shows how new grant-funded x-ray technology will help keep the community and our Fire Department employees safe. Click here to watch the report. 

Dianne Spradling, Common Ground Community Garden Coordinator and a Park Board Member, was recently awarded the "Supreme Service" award by the DFW Parks and Recreation Directors Association. Dianne was recognized for her tireless volunteer work managing the operations of the community garden. She has volunteered more than 8,400 hours to the garden and helped secure thousands of dollars in sponsorships for the garden. Congratulations and thank you Dianne.