Downtown Arlington Lit Up in Support of Frontline Workers

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AN Copywriter
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The situation with COVID-19 is unlike anything any of us have seen before. It’s certainly something we haven’t lived in Arlington before. Our community, the country, and the entire world came to a stop.

During lockdown, however, not everyone was able to stay at home and stay safe.

Essential and front-line workers have been hard at work while putting themselves and their families at risk of exposure. They have lead the effort to treat and contain the virus while keeping our community taken care of—from stocking the grocery stores to tending gas stations to caring for the sick.

Across the country, these front-line workers are putting their own health on the line to make sure their friends, family, neighbors, and the rest of the country can come out of this situation. Calling them heroes would be an understatement.

Arlington frontline heroes

The City of Arlington has no shortage of heroes, and no shortage of appreciation for both its local heroes and those on the front lines across the country.

To show our support, the Dream sculpture in Downtown Arlington was lit up in blue for the first time on the night of April 15th. Just one day later, 45 American flags were set to fly on the Levitt Pavilion lawn. The display was named The Spirit Lives, and is still flying to show the support that local veterans are offering to these heroes taking the fight to the virus.

Jeff Williams, Mayor of Arlington, had the following to say:

“As Mayor of this kind and generous city, I speak for all residents when it comes to thanking the men and women on the front lines helping us defeat COVID-19. Our hospital workers, first responders, firefighters and law enforcement have always been heroes and they continue to step up and answer the call to keep our citizens healthy and safe. I’m proud to see the Arlington community honor them with this display. It’s who we are.”

Although this display of support certainly seemed to pop up overnight, it was very much a product of deliberate coordination and long-standing gratitude. Wanting to join in the showing of support of the front-line workers, the Downtown Arlington Management Corporation reached out to 3Di Sign + Design to get the display lit up. The owner, Paul Fulks, made it his priority both to set up the display as well as to donate the labor and materials involved.

Truly, the support comes from every corner of Arlington. Fulks also had the following to add:

“As a small business owner and patron of Arlington, it was significant to show our support to those on the front lines; hospital staff, police, fire, and first responders. As a veteran, it hit home even more. Seeing the flags flying on the Levitt Pavilion lawn is a reminder of those that fought so hard, for the many freedoms and liberties we sometimes take for granted.”

Other signs of support popped up around the city as well. The Greater Arlington Chamber Veterans Business Council felt a drive to show some support, too. They set up flags from the Field of Honor in the shape of a cross. Clete McAlister, president of the Arlington Veterans Memorial Foundation, was the one with the idea. He has this to say:

“I served with heroes so I recognize them when I see them. The first responders and medical personnel working on our behalf now qualify and should be recognized for being the heroes they are.”

Support for these front-line heroes is being shown all across the City of Arlington, from family to family and business to business. In tough times such as these, this kind of support is what we need the most. Luckily, the people of Arlington really know how to give it.

“Although we are in the midst of challenging times, it’s been incredible to see our community come together to lift each other up,” said Chamber President & CEO Michael Jacobson. “Our community will come out of this stronger because of our awesome power to rally together. Together, we succeed.”

UTA’s RN to BSN Nursing Program ranked #2 in Texas

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AN Copywriter
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person getting his blood drawn

As the battle against the pandemic continues, Arlington community recognition and support for the frontline workers matters more every day. Staying home when we can is an enormous contribution to make sure these essential workers are not flooded with too much work, and not put into greater risk of contagion.

Among these local heroes that put their own health on the line every single day, we would be remiss to not appreciate our nurses.

Throughout the country, nurses are working overtime to manage the situation with COVID-19, tending to more patients than ever and working longer hours than what even seemed possible. Putting their own health on the line for the health and well-being of their friends, their family, their neighbors, their communities, and their country, there is no doubt that these individuals are being nothing short of heroic in this time of crisis.

RN to BSN training in Arlington

The training and education that goes into forging these frontline heroes is nothing short of rigorous, and luckily for residents of Arlington, our frontline fighters are top-of-the-line in this regard. The University of Texas at Arlington has recently been named the #2 RN to BSN nursing school program in all of Texas for 2020 by RegisteredNursing.org.

This is the fourth Annual Nursing School Program Ranking provided by RegisteredNursing.org. And today, more than ever, it’s important to recognize and appreciate all the hard work and dedication that these individuals go through to provide top-notch, compassionate, and highly skilled care—not only during a crisis and during a pandemic, but every single day of the year.

The rankings done by RegisteredNursing.org are constructed pulling data from IPEDS, NCES, OPE, and The Council for Community and Economic Research. Schools were then ranked based on total points earned during the evaluation. Points are given based on criteria such as whether or not the institution is accredited, whether or not online programs are offered, the variety of nurse programs offered, annual tuition and fees, acceptance rate percentage, and graduation rate. The specific breakdown can be found on the site: https://www.registerednursing.org/rankings-methodology/.

To take a look at the full Texas RN program rankings for this year, visit: https://www.registerednursing.org/rn-to-bsn/Texas/#top.

Republic Services Supports Employees and Local Businesses

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AN Copywriter
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During these first few month of the new year, essential workers have abundantly lived up to the title “essential.” They have kept the whole nation functioning despite the precarious conditions of the crisis we’re living. Regular recognition and appreciation for these essential workers is more than deserved.

The City of Arlington also wants residents to know what services are currently running and available.

Arlington trash and recycling collection

Trash and recycling collection crews are one example of workers that have been amply putting in the hours despite the risky situation. They work every day to ensure sanitation and cleanliness remains a priority across the city, especially now. Republic Services, for one, has been showing fantastic support for its own workers as well as to other Arlington businesses.

For instance, to support its employees, Republic Services has been purchasing meals for its employees as well as for their families every week. This supports both the workers and the small businesses of Arlington. Local businesses getting this business from Republic Services include Marquez Bakery, Tipsy Oak, Fred’s Philly Cheesesteaks, and others.

Front-line workers began receiving $100 gift cards every other week, too, with the encouragement to spend at and support these small, local restaurants.

Arlington is The American Dream City. With that, hard work and entrepreneurship flow through the blood of our residents and through the streets of our city. As the situation makes it difficult to keep morale high for essential workers (and difficult for small businesses to push through), supporting our fellow residents and believing in the American Dream is something that we can all do with a story like this one.

Make sure to visit Arlington’s COVID-19 website, www.arlingtontx.gov/coronavirus, to stay posted on additional updates. You can find lists of local restaurants that are still offering take out, delivery, and curbside pick orders there, too.

Ubbi Dubbi Festival Comes to Arlington, TX

By
Nikki Frisby
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music festival

Two-day electronic music festival, Ubbi Dubbi, comes to Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas April 18th and 19th. The festival is to host four stages of the hottest dance music artists in the industry including Kaskade, Illenium, Adventure Club, Seven Lions, and more.

Disco Donnie’s traveling EDM festival had record numbers last year at Panther Island Pavillion in Fort Worth hosting 45,000 attendees at the sold-out event. Based off of last year’s success, the event will move to Globe Life Park which offers a larger venue for the annual springtime celebration as well as a convenient location for travelers coming from all parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. The event has official hotels listed on the website to for those coming in from out of town.

This massive concert experience is one of the first to kick off festival season in North Texas. The full lineup features over 50 artists from around the world including local talent native to DFW.

Stage Hosts Include:

  • AMF (All My Friends) – Los Angeles-based DJ and producer Destructo presents All My Friends, a series of electronic music events aimed to share good music with good people. Destructo will be performing Saturday night.
  • Desert Hearts – What started as an intimate gathering in the Mojave Desert has evolved into this California based record label that provides a platform for fostering emerging house and techno artists. They will showcase their artists Lee Reynolds, Rinzen, Porky, Mikey Lion, Ardalan, and Marbs.
  • Gravitas Recordings – A music label and creative collective based out of Austin. Artist Wolf-e-Wolf, the Little rock native who released his debut EP on Gravitas Recordings, will be performing Saturday.
  • Wakaan – This eclectic record label has quickly formed a cult like following from bass heads across the country. Notable artists Luzcid, LSDream, and Liquid Stranger are just a few of the acts Wakaan will feature during the two-day event.

Thousands of tickets have already sold, but GA, GA+, and VIP packages are still available on the official website. If you plan on attending Ubbi Dubbi festival in Arlington here are some tips:

  • Save money getting to the venue
    • The city of Arlington’s Via ride share app offers affordable, on-demand public transportation with a flat rate fee of $3 per ride.
  • Stay hydrated
    • Ubbi Dubbi allows hydrating backpacks and reusable bottles to be taken into the venue. You will reduce plastic and save a few bucks by bringing your own container for water, but by all means stay hydrated even if you have to grab a water bottle from one of the many food vendors at the festival.
  • Know where the First Aid Stations are
    • Whether you need some electrolytes, aspirin, band aids, or ear plugs; Ubbi Dubbi has dedicated medical personnel on-site to keep you safe.
  • Consent Matters
    • Unsure what consent is? This great video explains how consent is as simple as tea. If at any point you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, the Celebrate Safe tent has a team available to help throughout the weekend.
  • Late night eats
    • These local restaurants in Arlington stay open and are less than 20 minutes from the venue late for those post festival munchies:
      • Fito’s Tacos De Trompo – 17 minutes away
      • Pancho’s Tacos – 4 minutes away
      • Gilligan’s Bar and Grill – 6 minutes away

Spring this year will kick off with an explosion of live dance music, world class stage production, and memories made for all those who come to Ubbi Dubbi. Other reasons to attend that festival-goers have listed on Ubbi Dubbi’s social channels include:

  • It’s a great excuse to dress up
  • You’ll hear artists you love
  • You’ll hear new artists that you WILL love

Even if you can’t attend both days of Ubbi Dubbi, you can check the daily line-up on the website and decide which day is best for you. Then you can buy an entry ticket for that day only at a reduced cost.

Ubbi Dubbi will introduce an enormous list of DJs representing an international cross-section of today’s dance music talent. And while it’s everyone’s priority to have a good time at the festival, there are great things all around Arlington, TX, The American Dream City, to explore while you are in town.

Former Arlington Mayor Elzie Odoms Family Papers added to UTA Libraries Special Collections

By
AN Copywriter
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Former Arlington Mayor, Elzie Odom and wife, Ruby Odom

Papers and memorabilia belonging to the family of former Arlington Mayor Elzie Odom have been added to Special Collections at the University of Texas at Arlington library. These papers include dozens of scrapbooks and personal letters, not to mention historical city documents and even some genealogical information.

These culturally-rich documents and memorabilia from former Mayor Odom and his wife Ruby Odom cover more than 40 years of the mayor’s service to the Arlington community. And now, they’re part of the Special Collections at UTA.

Recently announced

UTA had a luncheon this week to celebrate the new permanent collection. These artifacts are expected to bring researchers, students and all of Arlington a glimpse into the Odom family, including stories of Elzie Odom’s courage as Arlington’s first African American mayor and his many lasting contributions to Arlington.

UTA President Dr. Vistasp M. Karbhari was reported saying that the university is “truly honored to be able to house them at UTA, making them available for study, for inspiration, and for history, enabling his legacy to live on and provide motivation and direction for generations yet to come.”

The response

Elzie and Rub Odom, who have been married for 72 years, were at the event to thank UTA and the City of Arlington, along with members of the community and of their church. “This is such a blessing,” said Ruby Odom. “We are grateful, and we thank you.”

You can see more photos from the event on Flickr or go straight to the Special Collection at UTA on the 6th floor of the Central Library, 702 Planetarium Place.

You’re Invited to the 25th Annual Benefit Powwow at UTA!

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AN Copywriter
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Native American Dancers in Annual Powwow at UTA

The University of Texas at Arlington Native American Student Association is hosting its 25th annual Benefit Powwow in just a few short days!

This event is free and open to the community. It will run from 10:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at the UTA’s Maverick Activities Center at 500 W. Nedderman Drive.

The powwow includes dance (and dance competitions) as well as food and visiting vendors, and is designed to raise money for the scholarships that the UTA Native American Student Association provides to students.

The Native American Student Association President, Kasey Reynolds, was reported saying, “It’s all about continuing on and making sure that everything we share goes into the next generation and to new friends.”

The powwow event this year will showcase more dancing and music than ever. The Kiowa Black Leggings Warrior Society will also present a color guard presentation.

Parking is totally free for attendees. Don’t miss out on the 25th annual Benefit Powwow! For more information, you can visit the UTA NASA’s Facebook page.

2020 Black History Month Events in Arlington, Tx

By
AN Copywriter
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participants celebrating black history month in the Arlington library

February is Black History Month, an opportunity for national and local Arlington businesses and institutions to educate and celebrate on the strides and achievements black Americans have made throughout the history of the United States.

Carter G. Woodson, celebrated American historian of the first half of the 20th century, has often been called the “father of black history” for all the work he did to help write black Americans back into the history books when it was recognized how much of our country’s history had been whitewashed.

Local events around Arlington this year help to educate the community and celebrate the diverse members therein. February is a reminder each year that there is no American history without black history.

You can visit any one of these Arlington events during Black History Month. Keep reading to learn about these highlighted events, and please reach out to us when you hear about more that we can share!

Arlington’s 11th Annual Black History Month Festival

The Arlington Public Library and Animal Services are co-hosting the 11th Annual Black History Month Festival from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, February 23rd. The festival will take place at the Southeast Branch Library at 900 S.E. Green Oaks Blvd.

For more than a decade, this festival has served as a yearly celebration to honor the contributions of African Americans in the Arlington community as well as throughout the rest of the country. The festival includes performances and award-winning essay readings and more.

There will also be poetry and literature by and about black Americans read aloud during the event, and this year, there will be a recitation of the names of those people buried in the Arlington Heritage Memorial Grounds, which, for much of Arlington’s history, was the only place where black residents could be buried.

Visit the event page for Black History Month Festival to see a list of all the performers and activities you can expect this year.

Maverick Speakers Series: COMMON

Common is a hip-hop recording artist as well as an actor, film producer, poet, and activist from Chicago, IL. He has had a lasting influence on pop culture, and has used his social position to speak out about issues important to the community.

As an African American, many of the issues Common has spoken to have been around race and racial inequalities.

Now, February on the 11th at College Park Center, Common will be speaking to Arlington.

Throughout his career, Common has been nominated for 16 Grammys, winning three. He also won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his role in Selma. If you’re as interested to see Common as we are, tickets are now on sale at www.utatickets.com.

Tarrant County College Celebrates African-American Heritage Month

The Tarrant County College will be observing African American Heritage Month with multiple events across their campuses to celebrate the past and future of the black community. All the events are totally free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

From performances to speakers, social events and displays, there is something this year for students, families, and Arlington residents of every age. With the TCC’s multiple campuses, there are sure to be events nearby no matter what part of Arlington you’re in.

For a full look at the line-up of events, visit the TCC calendar.

Residents Can Text the City of Arlington About Issues on Citibot

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AN Copywriter
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Citibot chat

The City of Arlington has now launched a new text messaging tool that allows residents to report issues and ask questions in a fully-interactive user interface. Issues that residents are encouraged to report include potholes, stray animals and similar. The interactive text message tool can also be used to find information about city services, like events and recycling pick-up dates.

The City was drawn to the Citibot solution due to its user-friendly simplicity. Visitors can use the tool, too, to answer questions like “How do I get a pet license?” The interactive chatbot then replies with links to relevant information on the City of Arlington’s website.

When residents report an issue, Citibot even follows up to let the reporting user know when the issue has been taken care of.

How do I use the City of Arlington Citibot?

Just text “hello” to 817-409-4110. You can then enter questions or keywords.

The director of Communication and Legislative Affairs for the City, Jay Warren, was quoted saying, “We’re always looking for ways to put technology to work and offer our residents easier ways to report and resolve issues in their neighborhoods. With Citibot, one text is all it takes to streamline the reporting process for residents, allowing them to make The American Dream City a better place to live, learn, work and play.”

How did Citibot come to Arlington?

Arlington has become an early adopter of this text tool, and is only the second city in Texas (and also the largest) to implement it. This one-year initiative, funded by the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation, is meant to “test the waters” to see how much residents and visitors use the tool.

Citibot LLC was formed in 2016 in Charleston, South Carolina with the mission to make cities and counties—and all their services—accessible for everyone.

“People’s expectations of high-quality customer service are ever-increasing,” said Bratton Riley, co-founder and CEO of Citibot. “Cities like Arlington are leading the way by delivering powerful solutions to maximize efficiency and enhance access to information and vital services.”

About Citibot:

Citibot is a clever tool with real-life, daily applications for city residents around the country. It was designed to facilitate residents and their governments to use easier and more efficient communication for civic change and access to services. For more information, visit http://citibot.io or connect with Citibot on Facebook (/citibotio) or Twitter (@citibot_io).

Volunteers Needed for 2nd Annual Fish Creek Cleanup

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AN Copywriter
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Trash in Arlington Creek

We did it once, and we can do it again. Hundreds of volunteers will team up once again this year to collect trashed cans and bottles, plastic, paper and other debris spread along the banks of Fish Creek.

The first Fish Creek Cleanup Challenge took place last February, where around 350 volunteers came together to clean a four-mile section of the creek in southeast Arlington (between Matlock Road and State Highway 360). The effort took place over a three-day period.

Fish Creek Cleanup Challenge 2020

This year’s Fish Creek Cleanup Challenge—just the second of its kind—is scheduled for Saturday, January 25th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event’s organizer, Angel Carter, said she is hopeful for double or triple the number of volunteers they had last year.

The 2020 challenge is covering twice the distance, cleaning a total 8-mile stretch of the creek. Both Arlington and Grand Prairie will see parts of their creek shore cleaned up.

“The Cleanup Challenge is about more than Fish Creek,” Angel Carter was quoted saying. “Fish Creek just happens to be the starting point. It’s my hope that even if someone can only spare 30 minutes, come. It is eye opening and life changing to behold and be part of experience.”

Carter, a U.S. Marine veteran and 20-year Arlington resident, has been using the Facebook page as a platform to share photos and raise awareness about the creek conditions. The need for cleanup along the walking trail, in particular, is made plainly evident through the photos she shares.

Who can come help?

This cleanup challenge is a family-friendly event. The trash tends to be lightweight. Volunteers are asked to come wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts for a layer of protection, and also closed-toed or waterproof shoes. Trash-grabbers and other supplies are a good idea to bring to help the effort go faster.

The City of Arlington is also donating resources to the event, including trash bags and containers, plus drinking water stations.

Other sponsors for the event this year include the Travis Manion Foundation, Arlington Highlands Rotary Club, The Mission Continues, MAD Radio, the City of Grand Prairie, and Webb Masonic Lodge No. 1454.

Volunteers can join the effort starting at 9 a.m. in Cravens Park at 400 Cravens Park Dr. They can also come to the Fish Creek Neighborhood Park at 2121 Havenwood Dr.

Carter reminds volunteers that “any amount of time on January 25th between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. when we can all come together and make a difference is important. Not just for now. But for future generations.”

In the case of any inclement weather, the event has a secondary date for reschedule on Saturday, February 1st at the same time and place.

Obesity Problem in Tarrant County?

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DietSpotlight
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doctor measuring obese man
Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

The obesity epidemic is all around us, and the state of Texas understands the fight all too well. Texas has remained consistently in the top 15 obese states in the US. Though sometimes it may seem that obesity is a battle being fought only on a global scale, the same global battles are being fought in smaller and smaller communities.

Tarrant County, home to Fort Worth and Arlington, Texas, is home to more than 2.5 million people. When data collected by Dietspotlight, from men and women living in Tarrant County, was processed, a clear look into the obesity fight, on a local scale, was revealed.

Men living in Tarrant County weigh about 223 pounds. The average body mass index (BMI) is 32.3.

Women weigh in around 191 pounds with a BMI of 32.4.

According to the National Institutes of Health, a healthy BMI range is 18.5 to 24.9. Any number over 30 is considered obese.

When we take a closer look at how Tarrant fairs against the state of Texas, and the nation as a whole, we see very similar numbers. A Tarrant County resident, on average, needs to lose about 60.5 pounds. That’s “2% lower than the state average of 62 pounds and 3% higher than the country average of 59 pounds,” according to Dietspotlight.

Dietspotlight is a website packed with tools and resources for men and women searching for weight-loss help via meal replacements, workout programs, fat burners, trendy diets, and more. Personal data was collected anonymously and voluntarily and included height, weight, and location.

All research shared on the website is reviewed and validated by a team of medical and nutrition professionals from across the US.

 

References

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/overweight-obesity

https://www.tfah.org/report-details/stateofobesity2019/

https://statistics.dietspotlight.com/TX/Tarrant/

https://www.dietspotlight.com

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