Neighborhoods honored for their efforts

For Immediate Release March 9, 2010

Media Contact: 
Veronica Villegas 
Communications Officer
817-392-6178 (office)
817-353-2287 (cell)

Outstanding efforts by neighborhood associations will be recognized by the Fort Worth City Council on Tuesday. The neighborhood groups had previously been honored at the annual Neighborhood of the Year Awards dinner hosted by the Fort Worth League of Neighborhoods and the City of Fort Worth.

The Eastern Hills Homeowners Association was named Neighborhood of the Year. The association has built friendships among neighbors through a Lunch Bunch group, established friendships between young families through a moms’ group and formed a strong Code Blue group to enhance safety, harmony and security. The association has established seven subcommittees to benefit neighbors, including a Welcoming Committee, Condolences Committee and Refreshment Committee. The Eastern Hills Homeowners Association has hosted numerous neighborhood events and socials and promoted friendly competition between neighbors through yard of the month and holiday lighting contests.

The West Meadowbrook Neighborhood Association earned the Fort Worth Pride Award. West Meadowbrook lobbied the city for Neighborhood Empowerment Zone designation and worked with City Council representatives and city staff to rezone the neighborhood. The association also fostered economic development in the community and worked closely with the Police Department and Code Compliance Department to address traffic issues, code violations and substandard buildings.

The Park Glen Neighborhood Association received the Community Collaboration Award for its efforts to develop a community fun run. Partners included neighbors, high school students, Boy Scouts and a faith-based group. The event engaged more than 500 participants and 60 volunteers last year.

The Lake Como Planning Committee received the Spirit of Fort Worth Award. This organization works to keep community traditions alive, plans youth- and family-oriented activities, oversees a community recognition awards program and worked with the city to commemorate community leaders through a public art project.

Joe Waller was given the Ben Ann Tomayko Award. For the past decade, Waller has given thousands of hours of community service to help create public awareness of the need for reclamation and preservation of precious neighborhood resources.

City’s ‘Reaching Higher’ program honored with Barbara Jordan Media Award

For Immediate Release March 9, 2010

Media Contact:
Kevin Neal
Office: 817-392-1965
Cell: 817-944-5441

The touching story of a City of Fort Worth employee who returned to work after conquering potentially disabling medical challenges has been recognized with a statewide award.

A television documentary titled “Reaching Higher: Versie Returns to Work” was selected by the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities to receive the 2009 Barbara Jordan Media Award. Winners in eight categories were chosen by a statewide panel of judges that included journalists, professionals in the field of disabilities and people with disabilities.

Versie Taylor, a City of Fort Worth employee, suffered an aneurysm that left her without the ability to walk, talk, read or write. “Reaching Higher: Versie Returns to Work” tells about her journey back to work and how the city’s Return to Work program proved invaluable.

The video program was co-produced by David Ondich and John Vacca. Ondich is the host and Vacca wrote, directed, shot and edited the program.

The program can be viewed on Vimeo.

Award recipients will be honored at the Barbara Jordan Media Awards reception and dinner at 7 p.m. April 17 at the University of North Texas’ Gateway Building. The event will be hosted by the UNT Mayborn School of Journalism and is open to the public. Cragg Hines, former Washington bureau chief for the Houston Chronicle, will be the keynote speaker.

Fort Worth residents encouraged to complete their census questionnaire

For Immediate Release March 8, 2010

Media Contact:
Maria Ruiz
817-392-7220 (office)
817-372-8235 (cell)

This year, the U.S. will launch one of its shortest census questionnaires in history, having only 10 questions and taking just 10 minutes to complete.

The information gathered influences how federal funds will be distributed for community services such as schools, roads and elderly services. It also determines the representation of each state in the U.S. House of Representatives.

With more than $400 billion in annual federal funds available to states and communities, it is extremely important everybody in Fort Worth –documented and undocumented — be counted to determine how these funds will be distributed.

“You can help ensure that everyone in Fort Worth is counted so that our community receives its fair share of much-needed services and resources,” said Sal Espino, Fort Worth City Council member representing District 2 and chairman of the Complete Count Committee. Households that do not return questionnaires may expect a visit from a census taker sometime after March.

Every 10 years, the U.S. conducts a census to count every person living in the nation. This includes people of all ages, races, ethnic groups, citizens and noncitizens. All information gathered for the census is strictly confidential and by law, the Census Bureau cannot share an individual’s responses with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities.

Paint the town at Cowtown Brush Up

For Immediate Release March 4, 2010

Media Contact: 
Diane Covey 
Communications Officer
682-432-4227 (cell)

Volunteers will take to the streets to improve Fort Worth’s image and appearance in the 20th annual Cowtown Brush Up April 17. This year the City of Fort Worth has joined with Trinity Habitat for Humanity to help paint the homes of residents who may be elderly, homebound or otherwise unable to improve the exterior of their homes.

Now is the time to form a volunteer paint team and make a difference for fellow residents. Teams should have up to 20 volunteers, including a team captain.

Cowtown Brush Up began in 1991 when 33 homes in low-income neighborhoods were given a fresh coat of paint enhancing the neighborhoods’ images. The ripple effect began as entire communities discovered a renewed sense of pride. As a result, residents began to improve properties on their own.

To date, more than 2,100 homes have been painted Cowtown Brush Up volunteers. To learn more, call 817-392-7548 or go online to trinityhabitat.volunteerhub.com.

Mayor outlines 'Agenda of Opportunity' in State of the City address

Mayor Mike Moncrief delivered his seventh State of the City Address today to a sold-out audience at the Fort Worth Convention Center. In the important speech, Moncrief outlined what he called an “Agenda of Opportunity,” with the goal of looking past the challenges and seizing the opportunities to lift Fort Worth out of the national economic slump. He outlined four main objectives to his “Agenda of Opportunity”:

• Job creation
• Mobility
• Better neighborhoods; and
• Stabilizing the city budget.

The full text of Moncrief’s address to the residents of Fort Worth can be viewed on the City’s website.

Statewide warrant roundup kicks off in March

For Immediate Release Feb. 18, 2010

Media Contact: 
Bill Begley
Communications Officer
817-992-6169 (cell)

WHAT: A news conference announcing a statewide warrant roundup in March.

WHEN: 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 19, 2010.

WHERE: The North Central Texas Council of Governments headquarters, 616 Six Flags Drive, Arlington, TX, 76005. Download a locator map in PDF format. 

DETAILS: Jesse Hernandez, Fort Worth city marshal, will be joined by other marshals, law enforcement representatives and municipal court representatives from around the North Texas area to discuss the annual statewide warrant roundup. Jurisdictions across the state cooperate, sharing warrant information and picking up any and all with outstanding warrants in any jurisdiction. Last year, the Fort Worth roundup cleared more than 2,000 outstanding warrants during the roundup period. More than 204,000 were cleared statewide during the roundup.

‘Pothole blitz’ launched to repair city streets

For Immediate Release Feb. 19, 2010

Media Contact: 
Kevin Neal, Communications Officer
817-944-5441 (cell)

Following last week’s snowstorm, the Fort Worth Transportation and Public Works Department is launching a citywide pothole blitz today to repair as many roadways as possible before they worsen.

The Transportation and Public Works Department’s Street Services Division conducted an assessment and determined that there are 40 percent more potholes on Fort Worth streets now compared to before the storm. Conditions are expected to worsen over the next month.

The blitz begins Feb. 18 and will continue for at least two weeks, possibly longer if needed.

All non-emergency street repairs have been suspended so crews can concentrate on potholes. Twenty-six crews will be working citywide. Each crew can repair between 150 and 200 potholes per day. That means that 4,000-5,000 potholes can be repaired each day.

Arterial streets that carry more traffic are assigned a high priority for repairs. Other streets will be repaired as resources allow.

To report potholes, call 817-392-8100.

NOTE TO EDITORS: To arrange photography/video of city crews repairing potholes, contact Kevin Neal at the number above.