City of The Colony E-Newsletter • Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Severe Weather Preparedness Week

Recent severe storms reminded us that the weather in North Texas can be volatile, especially as we move into the spring. Strong winds, hail, and tornadoes are not uncommon in our neck of the woods. During Severe Weather Preparedness Week, March 6-10, the city's Emergency Management team and the D-FW Division of the National Weather Service encourages residents to have multiple ways to receive weather warnings and take steps now to prepare in advance of any additional severe weather on the horizon this season. Check out the following resources for more information about:

Receiving Weather Warnings (1-minute video)
Planning & Preparedness
Outdoor Warning Sirens (Hint: They're for anyone who might be outside. Outdoor sirens are not an effective means of alerting people who are indoors. See "Receiving Weather Warnings" link above.)
Differences between a storm "Watch" and a "Warning"

Also, residents or businesses whose property received storm damage recently are encouraged to report the damage to the Texas Division of Emergency Management. For more information about severe weather preparedness, visit the National Weather Service-DFW website or contact the city's Emergency Management Department at 972-624-3191.

Head over to the city's YouTube channel and check out the latest installment in our Culture Series. From games and activities at the Recreation Center, disc golf at Bill Allen, The Colony Wheelzone Skatepark, Stewart Creek Park, and more, there's so much to do. Come #PlayTC!

TCPL celebrates Black History Month

On Feb. 25, The Colony Public Library hosted a Black History Month event at The Colony Annex, featuring community member, author, and actor Hester Moore, among others. Activities included music, fashion, food, crafts, and more! Click the photo to watch a video from the event.

Ofc. Henderson receives Officer of the Year Award

Henderson named Officer of the Year

Congratulations to TCPD Ofc. Carlos Henderson (pictured at left) for his recent recognition as The Colony Chamber of Commerce First Responder of the Year for 2022. Also pictured is The Colony Police Chief David Coulon. Henderson was recognized for his work as our Mental Health Officer, where he has developed partnerships with county agencies as well as local resources to help facilitate quicker access to care. Ofc. Henderson is in the Patrol division, and routinely follows up on all mental health related calls to ensure our residents have access to assistance. He also was recently awarded the Officer of the Year for TCPD for 2022. If you have any questions about getting assistance with mental health, give TCPD a call at 972-625-1887.

Roadwork in The Colony 2023

The Colony City Council has prioritized funding for several important road projects in 2022-23, including: $3.5 million for Phase 12 Residential Street Reconstruction (Alta Oaks Court, Ballard Trail, Runyon Drive, right-turn lane on West Lake Highlands); $2.2 million for concrete reconstruction of Squires Drive; $1.5 million for street repairs on Lebanon Road; and more. Projects also include repairs to South Colony Boulevard and Standridge Drive. Click the photo for a new video outlining what's underway and what's to come later this year.

Library volunteers recognized

The Colony Public Library (TCPL) volunteers put in over 1,240 hours of service in FY 21-22 and TCPL could not be more appreciative! We had the honor of recognizing our dedicated volunteers at the City Council meeting on Feb. 22. Special recognition went to Don Beckel for 15 years of service and to Joe Kruzich for 20 years of service. The James W. Althaus Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Matthew Storm (pictured above), Friends of The Colony Public Library officer. Congratulations, Matthew, and thank you to all our wonderful volunteers! Click for more photos from TCPL's Facebook page.

City hosts LISD students for annual Career Out

One of our most favorite experiences each year is hosting Lewisville ISD students during the district's annual Career Out. We had a great time taking their questions and sharing insights with the students - all of whom were bright and engaging. Students visited various departments around the city, including the Information Technology Department (pictured above), The Colony Police Department, The Colony Public Library, Convention & Visitors Bureau, Engineering & Planning, and Wastewater Treatment, among others. Thank you for sharing your time and interest with us, and good luck in future endeavors! Click the photo for a video telling the story of a how a Career Out visit to The Colony helped a student "land her dream job."

What else is In THE News?

Attention Austin Ranch residents: The North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) is temporarily changing the disinfectant in its water treatment process March 6 to April 3. This only applies to residents in Austin Ranch, where water is purchased from the City of Plano. Visit the NTMWD website for more details.
Parks Maintenance Crews did a yeoman’s job to clean up Stewart Creek Park after the storms last week such that the park reopened the same day after a brief closure. The Colony Shoreline Trail remains closed, however, as crews work to get the right equipment out to locations in need of work. Contact Parks & Recreation at 972-625-1106 for more information.
Mark your calendars! The annual City-wide Spring Clean-Up event is set for 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 15, in the parking lot of Hawaiian Falls Waterpark, 4400 Paige Road. Keep watch on this space and/or www.TheColonyTx.gov for more details as we get closer to the date.
It's time to register for the upcoming Coach Cox's Kids Chase! This year's event is set for Saturday, April 22, at Stewart Creek Park, starting at 8 a.m. We've got a 1/2-Mile Race for kids ages 5-9 and a 1-Mile Race for kids ages 10-12. Registration is only $10 per runner and includes a race t-shirt and finisher ribbon. Shirts guaranteed to the first 250 registered runners. Register today!