February Wrap-Up

There were snow days and cancellations galore after a very mild Valentine’s Day and weekend. Gretchen the Garland Groundhog saw her shadow on February 2, predicting there would be 6 more weeks of winter weather. Though just a novice at predicting the Garland weather, it sure looks like Gretchen got it right!

Koehler Graphics, a fixture in Downtown Garland for the past 26 years, has been sold. Mimi Koehler announced that she had sold her print shop on February 13, but no information as yet on the new owners. Koehler’s great customer service and support of the community will be missed.

We had temperatures in the 70’s the weekend of February 14 & 15 and our parks and golf courses were popping with activity. The former Oak Rridge Country Club, which is now the Duck Creek Golf Club, was enjoying a banner weekend, with all carts out and all tee-off times reserved.

February 20 was Lunar New Year, otherwise known as Chinese New Year. There was some controversy as to whether we were welcoming in the Year of the Sheep or the Year of the Goat. According to the NY Times the question is debatable, but we’re going for the goat. The Garland Youth Council held a Lunar New Year celebration in Robert Smith’s 507 State Street indoor/outdoor event venue. The event was a fundraiser to help finance the Youth Council’s travel expenses to Washington Dc

Winter weather returned with a vengeance, prompting GISD to declare 2 snow days, canceling all classes.  How much does all those snow day closings cost our city? One wonders if the salting or sanding of school bus routes wouldn’t be more economical than the shutdowns. Perhaps the students could be picked-up on main street corners during those days, which would keep the street treating process to a minimum.

The Achievement Center of Texas had to cancel their annual special Arts Festival due to snow and travel warnings. The celebration of visual and performance arts was to be held in the event venue at Springcreek Church on Beltline and Shiloh Rd. in Garland.. Marilynne Serie, Executive Director of ACT, tells us the event will be rescheduled.

The moving of the historic Lyles/Tinsley House that has been stored in the rear parking lot of the Granville Arts Center for over a year, was also postponed due to snow. It was scheduled to be moved to its permanent location at Heritage Crossing on February 26. The white frame house, ca. 1890, was formerly located in what was Heritage Park. The old Santa Fe depot/museum, the Pace House and the Lyles/Tinsley House were located in Heritage Park. Those structures were moved to make way for the development of Phase 2 of the Oaks Fifth Street Crossing apartment complex.

Calling all Vendors: The folks who organize the Marketplace on the Square in downtown Garland are in the midst of planning their first event for 2015. The one day events take place on the 3rd Saturday of each month from March through September.  There are fresh

produce vendors and folks selling homemade food items, dog treats and myriad handcrafted items.  Spots can be reserved by calling Kirk at Lovett PR in Rockwall, Texas. The first marketplace will be held on Saturday, March 21.