April 24, 2022
This Week's News
May 7 Local Election
The City of Garland will hold a May 7 general election to elect City Council members for Districts 2 and 5. 

Early voting begins tomorrow, April 25, and ends Tuesday, May 3. Early voting locations and other information will be listed by the Dallas County Elections Department

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 7. Garland residents may vote at any polling place in Dallas County. Learn more
Garland Announces New Directors
Laura Dunn was promoted to Capital Project Management Director on Feb. 21. Since 2005, she has served in a number of roles for the City of Garland. In 2019, she joined the Project Management Office as the Strategic Projects and Capital Portfolio Manager, playing a key role in implementing the 2019 Bond Program.

Cynthia Baughman was promoted to Water Utilities Technology Director on April 4.
Since 2014, she has served as the Public Works Operations Technology Manager, overseeing all Garland Water Utilities strategic technology initiatives.

Carol Hsueh was promoted to HR Operations Director on April 18. Since 2019, she has served as the Senior HR Business Partner for various departments. Prior to joining the City, she served in director and manager-level roles for several private organizations.

Learn more at GarlandTX.gov.
2022 City Nature Challenge and Guided Nature Walks
The four-day international City Nature Challenge will take place Friday, April 29, through Monday, May 2, using iNaturalist.org to record and analyze nature observations from all over the world.

Come to Spring Creek Forest Preserve on your own any time during the four days and take photos of plants, insects, mushrooms and more – it’s up to you. Upload the photos to iNaturalist for identification and to record the diversity we have at the Preserve.

You can also participate in one of the Preserve's guided nature walks:
8 a.m. Saturday, April 30, and Sunday, May 1
Spring Migration Bird Walks with Master Birder Reba Collins at 1787 Holford Road. Reservations are required and limited to 10 people. Email rcollins20@verizon.net to reserve a spot – please specify Saturday or Sunday. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring binoculars.

6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 30
Frogs at Night with Jessica Crowley at Halff Park, 4695 Ranger Drive. An evening hike listening and looking for frogs along Spring Creek. Long pants and sturdy, closed-toe shoes are recommended.
1 p.m. Sunday, May 1
Insect Walk with Judy Aschner at 1787 Holford Road. Insects in various life stages will be present as the spring species are winding down and the summer species are ramping up. Long pants and sturdy, closed-toe shoes are recommended.

Learn more at SpringCreekForest.org.
Romancing the Book Club Thursday, May 5
Do you like to read romance novels? Join our new book club and get your fill of all things romance!

This book club is for adults 18 and older who love reading romance and want to find like-minded people in the library. Group members will read a selected romance novel and then discuss the book during the program.

May's book selection is "The Kiss Quotient" by Helen Hoang. Join us at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 5, at the South Garland Branch Library, 4845 Broadway Blvd.
Cinco de Mayo Celebration Sunday, May 8
The Cinco de Mayo festival is just around the corner!

Bring the whole family out for a day of fun at this fiesta from 3 to 9 p.m. Sunday, May 8, at the amphitheater at Winters Park, 1419 Spring Creek Drive.

Enjoy food vendors, a car show, live music and performances, and more!
Sounds of Summer Concert Series Returns Thursday, May 12
Garland’s Sounds of Summer Concert Series returns with 7 p.m. events every other Thursday from May 12 through July 21.

Along with presenting partner Veritex Bank and artist sponsor Jimmy Wallace Guitars, the City is proud to feature touring on-the-rise artists and lively entertainers who are sure to blow you away with talent and get you dancing. 

Bring the family, grab a bite from on-site food vendors and let the kids challenge each other in the activity area. Get more details at VisitGarlandTX.com.

Stay tuned for news on Band Together, a series of weekly live shows on the Square in Downtown Garland beginning in May!
Events and Announcements
Plan Commission
April 25
The Garland Plan Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, April 25, 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. The virtual meeting link will be included in the individual meeting agenda. You may participate by telephone. Dial-in numbers will be posted with the virtual meeting information.

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

Spring Activities and Events
Check out all the upcoming activities and events in Garland at VisitGarlandTX.com. There's something fun for everyone!
Public & Media Relations
P.O. Box 469002 | Garland, Texas 75046