April 16, 2023

May 6 Local Election News

The City of Garland will elect a Mayor and City Council members for Districts 3, 6, 7 and 8 on Saturday, May 6. For a listing of the candidates and other information, visit our Elections page.

The Garland Association for Hispanic Affairs will host a candidate forum at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, at Fields Recreation Center, 1701 Dairy Road. Meet the candidates running for the offices of Mayor, City Council and Garland Independent School District Board of Trustees. 

Early voting will begin Monday, April 24, and end Tuesday, May 2. Dallas College Garland Center, 675 W. Walnut St., and the South Garland Branch Library, 4845 Broadway Blvd., will be early voting sites.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 6. Garland residents may vote at any polling place in Dallas County. Learn more.

Animal Shelter & Adoption Center Grand Bonanza Saturday, April 22

Join Garland Animal Services at our Grand Bonanza from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 22, as we celebrate the one-year anniversary of our beautiful facility at 1902 State Highway 66!

All are welcome to come by to be a part of this special day!

Enjoy:

• Pet adoptions
• Pet-friendly vendors
• Food trucks
• Kids’ activities
• Raffle prizes
• Free vaccine and microchip clinic

For more information or if you have questions, email MFuentes@GarlandTX.gov.

Sip, Shop and See at Thirsty Third Thursday

Celebrate Thirsty Third Thursday in Downtown Garland from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 20. Visit participating locations during their extended business hours and enjoy a complimentary beverage while you shop.

Check in at the Garland Landmark Museum, 393 N. Sixth St., to pick up your wristband, tote bag and map, and get started.

See VisitGarlandTX.com to learn more.

Art of Party Featuring Emerald City Band All Stars Friday, April 21

Join the Garland Cultural Arts Commission Inc. (GCAC) for The Art of Party, an evening with the Emerald City Band All Stars, at 8 p.m. Friday, April 21, at The Atrium at the Granville Arts Center, 300 N. Fifth St.

Put the "fun" in fundraiser as you dance to everyone’s favorite party band and enjoy complimentary nibbles and a cash bar. All proceeds benefit GCAC, a nonprofit supporting Garland arts and artists since 1987. Get your tickets today!

Central Library to Temporarily Move for Renovation

The current site of the Central Library closed for renovation today, April 16. The library will temporarily shift operations to the former Garland Women’s Activities Building, located just down the street at 713 Austin St., while the building is undergoing renovation. The work is expected to last 12 to 14 months.

During the renovation, patrons are encouraged to make use of the temporary facility that will open in early May, which we’re calling Central Library Express, and of the City’s three other branch libraries. Learn more.

Bake the Book: Get Bready to Crumble!

Prove you've got what it bakes! Choose a recipe from our selected book or bring your favorite recipe that fits each month's theme. This month's theme is Middle Eastern baking!

When all is said and bun, you can enjoy a taste of all the baked goods prepared for the program while discussing the selected book, the month's theme, or baking in general. The tasty fun will take place at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at the South Garland Branch Library, 4845 Broadway Blvd.

Register online or by calling 972-205-3931.

Garland Cultural Arts District Discussion Wednesday, April 26

Community members are invited to a discussion regarding the creation of a cultural district within Garland at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, at the Plaza Theatre, 521 W. State St.

Cultural districts connect communities, strengthen economies and expand cultural enrichment. This concept builds on the ideas, core values, themes and actions outlined in Garland's 2021 Cultural Arts Plan, such as leveraging cultural arts as a key strategy and factor for attracting visitors to Garland and promoting Garland as a regional arts tourist destination. RSVP today!

Black April Day Parade Sunday, April 30

The fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, is known as Black April Day in many Vietnamese communities. This year, the Vietnamese American Community of Greater Dallas will commemorate the event with a motorcade parade at noon Sunday, April 30. It is a chance to honor the lives lost in the war for democracy and human rights in Vietnam.

The parade will begin at the Vietnamese American Community Center, 3221 Belt Line Road, before heading south on Shiloh Road, then west on Buckingham Road. The parade will turn north on Jupiter and conclude at the Cali Saigon Mall.

For more information, visit congdongdallas.org or call 972-666-1168.

Garland Police Detective Inducted into National Law Enforcement Officer Hall of Fame

Garland Police Detective Tony Godwin was inducted into the National Law Enforcement Officer Hall of Fame in Toledo, Ohio, on March 30.

Detective Godwin was presented with the Career Achievement Award. He is the first Garland Police Department officer to be awarded this outstanding honor.

Detective Godwin works in our Internet Crimes Against Children Unit. Recently he worked on a case for more than two years to put an international predator behind bars.

City Council Meetings

April 17 and 18

The Garland City Council Work Session will begin at 6 p.m. Monday, April 17. Regular Meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, at City Hall, 200 N. Fifth St.

Boards & Commissions Meetings

All upcoming Boards & Commissions meetings can be found on the Public Meetings calendar at GarlandTX.gov.

In-person meetings have resumed, but you can continue to watch the meetings online.

View agendas at GarlandTX.gov and be sure to click the "subscribe" button to receive notifications when meeting agendas are posted.

District 4 Town Hall Meeting

April 20

Join District 4 Council Member B.J. Williams for a Town Hall discussion on Las Mariposas Townhomes Neighborhood infrastructure repairs at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 20, at Audubon Recreation Center Room 102, 342 W. Oates Road. Learn more.