January Updates

January Updates

January 31, 2016….the month is ending without a single update that has not been focused exclusively on the tornado recovery efforts. It’s now over a month since the

December 26 tornado struck South Garland and Rowlett. We’re still waiting to learn whether or not FEMA will be offering that agency’s financial assistance to individuals and our municipalities. According to Congressman Pete Sessions , we’ll receive word from Washington within the next few days. We’re keeping our fingers crossed.

During the school holiday the traffic circle at the intersection of Wynn Joyce and Country Club Road in South Garland was finally removed. Its removal was a much appreciated holiday gift to residents in the area.

The ill conceived roundabout was an eyesore that only confused drivers and could not accommodate large trucks and emergency vehicles. The circle has been replaced by a traffic light , greatly enhancing the intersection.

Down just a hundred yards or so from the new traffic signal on Wynn Joyce is the new South Country Club Road that stretches all the way to Rowlett road, allowing area residents to bypass the heavy traffic on Broadway. Of course, a new development is planned for that stretch of new road, but it will be very beneficial,nonetheless.

Shortly before Christmas the Masaryk Mexican Kitchen opened in South Garland, next door to the Indoor Soccer facility on Broadway near Centerville. The restaurant is named after a fashionable street in Mexico City, according to owner Arlene Macias. When TABC finally gives them the go ahead, they’ll be offering full bar service specializing in margaritas. We have found the food and service to be very good and we’re anxiously awaiting those $6.75 margaritas!

Downtown Garland

The new City Manager, Bryan Bradford, recently commented that “anything involving the City takes a long time”, referring to projects undertaken by City Hall.

With that in mind, it’s no small wonder that the building purchased by the COG from the Garland Civic Theatre sits in disarray, pending on the endless meetings and discussions that will be necessary before a conclusion is reached regarding its future. Located in the heart of the city and in the center of the downtown square, it seems reasonable to expect the city to maintain a certain higher level of housekeeping. It took forever to get broken windows on the building fixed, and now the new windows reveal bits and pieces of set material left behind when the theater company moved out six months ago. In a conversation with Celeste Rogers of the GCT, we were told that if the theater had any use for the stuff they would have removed it by now. If the city doesn’t feel like cleaning the place out, how about window coverings? Several friends have expressed interest in leasing parts of that building, even though the city plans to give the square a drastic makeover in two years, according to local officials.

We were disappointed to learn that Gretchen the Garland Groundhog will not be appearing at 507 State Street on February 2, Groundhog Day. That outdoor space is currently being used by the overflow crowds enjoying the music, food and drinks from the Intrinsic Brew Pb. It is our understanding that the space can also be leased for other events.

Homeless Man Finds Wallet

Those of us who frequent businesses in downtown Garland may have noticed Greg, the homeless man who may be seen sleeping on one of the benches in the square from time to time. He’s been down there for quite awhile, and has become acquainted with some of the shopkeepers and restaurant employees in the area. Shortly before Christmas, one of the employees of the bank got into her car at the end of her workday and headed for home. When she got home she realized she didn’t have her wallet. She had dropped it on the ground next to her parking space as she hurried away. As she pulled into that same parking space the next morning, she was greeted by Greg. He was holding her wallet in his outstretched hand. Its contents had been undisturbed. The woman was very grateful and wanted to express her

gratitude with a reward. She removed a few bills from her wallet and gestured toward Greg, who raised his hands over his head as though she were pointing a gun. “I didn’t do this for money,” he said, “I did it because I didn’t want you to lose everything, like I did”. “You deserve a reward,” she said, as she reluctantly returned the money to her wallet. Greg may think he has lost everything, but he obviously has not lost his integrity.