The Fourth Annual Esports Awards Are Coming to Arlington

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AN Copywriter
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esports gamers

From museums to public art exhibits to Raiders games and the Metropolitan Ballet, the City of Arlington has always been a huge proponent of arts and entertainment—in particular featuring the sports and sporting events at our very own world-renowned facilities.

Unsurprisingly, Arlington has also been a strong supporter of the thriving and rapidly growing phenomenon that is esports.

If you aren’t familiar with the term, esports refers to a form of competition via video games, normally regarding multiplayer games between both amateur and professional players. The game Fortnite took the world by storm just a few years ago and quickly became one of the biggest games on the market. Championships for Fortnite, along with other massive and familiar games such as League of Legends, Call of Duty, PUBG, Overwatch, and Halo, form some of the most exciting and anticipating events in esports each year.

Esports Stadium Arlington

With its very own esports facility, the City of Arlington is no newcomer to the playing field. In fact, Esports Stadium Arlington is the largest dedicated esports facility in North America—and not just because everything is bigger in Texas.

Having already hosted a plethora of esport events of many different types and sizes, the
Esports Stadium is excited host one of the largest and most important esports event in the
industry. The fourth annual Esports Awards are coming to Arlington, and they’re bringing some of the biggest names and talents in the industry along with them—as well as some well- deserved international recognition for the city.

Hoping to create a legacy and honor the community, the Esports Awards will be recognizing
individuals and teams in a plethora of categories including:

 Esports Play of the Year
 Cosplayer of the Year
 Esports Breakthrough Game of the Year
 Lifetime Achievement in Esports
 Esports Live Event of the Year
 Esports Team of the Year
 And Esports PC Rookie of the Year

Truly, it’s an event to celebrate the entire industry, from fans to players to creators and
developers—as well as supporters. The full list of categories can be found here.

General admission along with some of the biggest names in esports, including special guests from throughout the industry, will come together for an evening of fine dining and networking. This is the first time Arlington will be opening its doors for some of the biggest personalities in esports.

Arlington will partner with the Esports Awards and will be inviting visitors to discover more of the city. From the many world-class stadiums and beautiful parks to the many more entertainment facilities and venues, there is so much more for guests to see beyond the Esports Stadium.

The City of Arlington is happy to welcome the awards event and all of the included guests. For hospitality information, contact [email protected]. Tickets can be purchased on the website.

Arlington Library Book Drive

By
AN Copywriter
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narrative book

Tablets, smartphones and e-readers have pulled us away from printed text. Being able to carry your entire collection of books or magazines in your pocket is more convenient, and being able to expand that collection instantly with a swipe of the screen is relished by millions of consumers each week.

That being said, what a screen can’t—and might never—truly capture is the magic of flipping through your favorite physical book, feeling and smelling the pages, and physically falling into the worlds within the open page.

A physical copy of a book grows and changes with you. The journey, the emotions and the
experience you share are clearly marked in each companion through every smudge, tear,
wrinkle, and dog-eared corner. The magic doesn’t just have to be a personal journey, either. Reading a book that a friend lent you allows you to stumble across their journey, while leaving your own footprints along the way—something sharing a PDF can’t quite capture.

The Friends and Foundation of the Arlington Public Library wants to help you share your
adventures and journeys of all kinds through their book drive. Book donations can help others enjoy the stories, adventures and texts you’ve had and loved. And as a bonus, donating some books can help you tidy up and make room for new adventures, too.

The book drive will be accepting donations on July 18th, July 20th, August 15th, and August 17th from 8:30 AM to noon on each day. The drive will be located at the FFAPL warehouse at 2205 W. Division St., Suite G4.

Depending on the condition of the items, donations may be added to the Library’s collection for check out. All other items will be put up for sale at the Downtown Library in the Sun Club Sustainability Shop during the bi-yearly book sales.

The Friends and Foundation of the Arlington Public Library will also be accepting puzzles,
games, DVDs and lots of other items as long as they’re in good condition.

APD Takes Steps to Protect You from Package Theft

By
AN Copywriter
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amazon packages

Amazon’s enormously-popular Prime Day has come and gone again, and as always, millions of packages were ordered and delivered.

This year, in addition to deliveries a physical and virtual picket line formed as Amazon workers protested for better payment, along with Whole Foods, Kindle, IMDb and Twitch workers, all Amazon-owned companies.

Despite the protests, millions of Amazon orders were placed and package traffic increased
exponentially. All of these deliveries brought a recurring concern that’s especially relevant
around Prime Day and over the holidays: how can you avoid package theft?

The Arlington Police have a few tips to make sure you get packages delivered safely. Let’s take a look.

1. First, the tracking feature can be very useful to avoid package theft. Checking when the
package will reach your doorstep can ensure that you get it into your home as quickly as
possible.

2. If you aren’t at home when the package is due to arrive, you can ask friends or family to
pick it up for you. If someone else is at home at the time, this shouldn’t be an issue. If
nobody is home, a friend that lives nearby might be able to help you out—ask your
neighbors!

3. If this last option isn’t possible for whatever reason, you can try getting your package
delivered to your workplace.

Even if you haven’t ordered anything, you can always help keep package thieves in check,
especially when delivery traffic is increased. If you see vehicles following delivery trucks or
people walking around with packages suspiciously, this activity can be reported to the police.

Amazon is generally very good at dealing with lost or stolen packages. If your package is lost or stolen, you will most likely be able to get a refund or get your order resent. In any case, it’s better and safer to try and make sure you get your package safely the first time.

Rent the Runway Has Come to Arlington

By
AN Copywriter
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Rent The Runway Arlington

Like any art form, fashion is dynamic. It changes and evolves, sometimes in gradual or linear ways…and sometimes in leaps.

Unlike other art forms, however, fashion can go through these major changes every single
season. These dramatic changes can be a challenge for those with a flair for fashion to keep up with.

For one, not every trend is one that everyone needs to follow. Maybe the latest trend isn’t
something you’re ready to dive in to. Maybe the look you’re going to try out is about to go out of season and you don’t want to buy an outfit you’re only going to use once or twice before next year. And, of course, what happens when your newest haul goes out of style? Do you let it sit in your closet until it’s considered a throwback, or do you give it away?

These problems have likely been reasons for hesitation for many of us in the past. Luckily, Rent the Runway offers an innovative solution that Arlington fashionistas are getting excited about this summer!

Rent the Runway is a new subscription service that can help you keep up with the trends in a simpler and more cost effective way. With its designer-on-demand model, you can rent multiple pieces of designer clothing for periods of time and swap them out to keep things fresh. This helps you stay up to date with the latest in designer fashion without having to sacrifice your wallet or your closet space.

Looking to grow with the community and to further extend their outreach, Rent the Runway has now extended their services to Arlington—and in no small manner, either. Rent the Runway has opened dry cleaners and distribution centers right here in the city, setting up their largest presence in the nation. The company chose to come to Arlington to grow alongside the classic Texan work ethic and ownership, which they hope to incorporate into their own growth.

In a truly win-win fashion, Rent the Runway coming to Arlington is expected to create over 500 new jobs, with even more positions inevitably opening up in the years to follow.

The monthly subscription service offers three different plans:

1. RTR Unlimited grants you “access to a constantly rotating wardrobe.” This option allows
you to rent out unlimited pieces with no return dates—swap out as you wish.
2. RTR Update allows you to rent 4+ pieces per month, swapping out for new pieces and
styles every month.
3. RTR Reserve is the à la carte option, allowing you to rent pieces for 4-8 days. Selections
can be booked for later that same day, or up to months in advance.

With over 600 designer brands to choose from and hundreds of new jobs created in Arlington, Rent the Runway is a welcome addition to the city.

Free Workshop to Save on Arlington Water Bills

By
Kitan Lawson
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Water Sprinkler

Summer time is here! And that means spending days by the pool, chasing the ice cream truck, grilling out and—an important one not to forget—checking to make sure your house is leak free.

Summer in Arlington means significantly increased water usage, and any overlooked leaks in your house or sprinkler system could skyrocket your water bill.

Q: How do I know if I have a leak?
There are many ways to check for leakage yourself, just take a look at the creative YouTube
videos available.

One of the easiest and most reliable ways to check, however, is to pick out a two-hour window during the day when no water will be used. This can be during a grocery run, while you go to the gym or are at work. Check your water meter at the beginning of this two-hour window and jot the number down. And then check the meter again at least two hours later.

If no water was used but the number changed, that’s a sure sign that you have a leak
somewhere in your home.

Q: Where will I find leaks?
Checking your faucets and pipes can be a good way to spot surface leaks. If you do have a
surface leak, you’ll find water outside (but around) these spaces.

Toilets can also be common culprits for household leaks. An easy way to check if your toilet is leaking is to place a drop of food coloring into the back of the tank. If 10-15 minutes later you see some of the coloring has moved to the bowl, chances are you need to replace your toilet’s flapper.

Q: What can be done by Arlington residents?
Arlington Water customers can check their water levels remotely and online, and can
specifically check for abnormally high water usage and receive alerts directly on the Arlington Water website.

Checking your water levels and plumbing to detect leaks is of the highest importance during the summer, not just to save the world but to make sure you aren’t paying too much for you water bill! Fixing the leaks correctly is just as important as being locating them, however, and Arlington Water Utilities and Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) want to make sure you can handle both like a pro.

So, where to start? Make sure to register for the Arlington Water and TRWD joint event at the Arlington Public Library’s Lake Arlington Branch at 4000 W. Green Oaks Boulevard on Tuesday, July 16th . The two will be hosting a completely free “Care and Repair DIY Sprinkler System Workshop” from 6:30–8:00 pm. If you can’t make it that day, there will be another session at the same time on Thursday, August 8th at the George W. Hawkes Downtown Library, 100 S. Center St.

This workshop provides Arlington residents with tips and tricks for DIY sprinkler care and repair, and will be led by the ex-Water Resources Program Specialist at Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension Service, Dr. Dotty Woodson.

Sprinkler reparation and maintenance is important for both the city as well as for you own wallet. A single damaged sprinkler head can rack up to 25 thousand gallons of wasted water in just six months. This adds up to a whole lot of water wasted for the city and a whole lot of dollars that you shouldn’t have on your water bill.

Make sure you don’t get overcharged this summer, and start by registering for one of the
workshops now. Hurry, because the first 30 people to pre-register will receive a free moisture meter at check in!

Culhane Scholarship Brings More Firefighters to Arlington

By
Kitan Lawson
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Arlington TX Fire Fighter

Here in Arlington, we are fortunate to have our very own team of superheroes to count on: the Arlington Fire Department. They protect us, our possessions, our homes and our community from destructive fires. Being a firefighter is both a noble and a dangerous profession, and many strive to do it as well as Lieutenant David Culhane.

David Culhane was a Lieutenant in the Arlington Fire Department. His 38 years of service were a gold standard in dedication, teamwork and humility. Well known for his leadership and wit, Culhane’s commitment to the job served as a perfect example of how to make a real difference in our community. Having earned many awards and commendations for exemplary service and saving lives, Culhane preferred to applaud his team for the hard work and excellent service they performed. A humble and highly admired leader and officer, Culhane’s dedication has and continues to inspire generations of firefighters.

Lieutenant David Culhane sadly lost his battle with cancer last July. In order to honor Arlington’s longest-serving firefighter’s love for serving the community and helping future generations, a new scholarship has been established at Tarrant County College Fire Service Training Center.

The idea of the David Culhane Memorial Scholarship for Future Firefighters came from Deidre Culhane, David’s wife. Deidre says that she wants her husband’s love for service to transcend, living on through future generations of firefighters. The Arlington Fire Department encourages the community to help support the scholarship by donating; the aim is to raise a minimum of $30,000.

Fire Chief Don Crowson shares that the scholarship aims to provide proper preparation,
education, and training to future firefighters. He wants to see them serve with the same
leadership and dedication as Culhane. The scholarship is meant to honor the great confidence and passion that Culhane brought to his service.

Deidre shares that 15 unsponsored candidates register to become firefighters at the TrainingCenter each year. These candidates dream of becoming firefighters, but the training can be more than daunting. It can be especially difficult to complete the 14-week daytime training course while working a full-time job. The scholarship intends to help take some of the burden off of candidates as well as their families.

Donations toward the Culhane Scholarship can be made on the website by selecting the “please enter name of scholarship or program in the comment box below” option of the drop-down menu next to Gift Designation, then entering “David Culhane Memorial Scholarship” in the comment. Checks can be made out to the TCC Foundation at 1500 Houston St., Fort Worth, TX 76102 with a note “to David Culhane Memorial Scholarship” in the memo.

City responds after tornados touch down in Arlington

By
Kitan Lawson
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0
tornado

Two tornados touched down a week ago on Sunday.

There was an EF-1 in Arlington and an EF-0 in North Fort Worth and Eagle Mountain Lake.
Fortunately, no lives were lost.

The tornados tore up trees and rooftops throughout their paths, even bringing down trees and power poles in front of a nursing home on Matlock Rd. The EF-0 passed through Crawford Farms and Vista Meadows subdivisions, and the EF-1 struck near Texas Rangers turf, Globe Life Park.

No one was killed in either of the two storms, but that doesn’t mean that being prepared isn’t crucial whenever severe weather strikes.

The City of Arlington was quick to respond with safety tips for all area residents. Here is what they recommend when dealing with tornados:

1. Get inside. This is the single most important thing to do in a severe weather situation.
The number-one cause of death and injury during a tornado is flying debris, and being
out in the open maximizes the risk.

Once inside, it’s important to get as close to the center of the building or structure as
possible. Try to rule out any rooms that border the outside, and especially any rooms
with direct openings to the outdoors such as doors or windows. Glass can shatter and
harm you, and flying objects can crash through—not to mention that, if the windows or
doors are ripped open, there will be nothing between your and the tornado.

2. Get down. More specifically, get low. If there is a basement, go there. Being completely
underground is the absolute safest place you can be during a tornado—again, avoiding
windows and direct exits. If there is no basement, the lowest floor is the next-best option.
And, just like in recommendation number one, try to stay as close to the center of the
floor as possible.

3. Get covered. Flying debris is by far the most common cause of death and injury during
a tornado. Cover up with blankets, pillows, jackets, and anything you have at hand that
will help cushion any impact. If there are helmets and other protective sporting gear
around, put them on. Anything that will minimize impact injury of a flying object will be
your best friend in these situation.

Follow these three tips to minimize your level of risk during severe weather situations, and
remember: It’s always better to be prepared!

The Work of Keith Haring to be Featured at the Arlington Museum of Art

By
Nikki Frisby
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Photo by sebrenner / Creative Commons

The iconic pop art and graffiti-like work of artist Keith Haring will be displayed in the Arlington Museum of Art for its newest exhibit, “Keith Haring: Against All Odds,” beginning this Friday.

Opened in 1986, the Arlington Museum of Art hosts a variety of exhibitions as well as lectures, children’s classes, adult workshops and film screenings to engage the community in creative endeavors. Keith Haring will be the latest of noteworthy artists to be featured among other big names such as Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali.

The exhibition will feature over 50 original pieces brought to the museum by the Rubell Family Collection / Contemporary Arts Foundation, a privately owned collection of contemporary art exhibits in Miami.

The work of Keith Haring tackled themes such as LGBTQ+ rights and HIV awareness. 2019 marks the 50th year of the Stonewall Inn riots, a series of confrontations between queer rights activists and police that would kick off the global gay rights movement. The exhibition will serve as a talking point about issues facing the queer community.

The cartoon-like style Haring used gained popularity in the 1970s-1980s and connected New York City youth to activism.

The Haring exhibition will include a private opening reception on Thursday, June 20th, 2019 for members of the Arlington Museum of Art.

Located at 201 West Main Street, the exhibition is set to run from June 21 to September 15. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors.

Free Pop-Culture Event ArlingCon Celebrates 5 Years in Arlington

By
Nikki Frisby
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Photo via @KabooooomGeeks on Facebook

Comic book fanatics, anime lovers, and superhero fans gathered at ArlingCon, Arlington’s annual FREE pop culture convention, last Saturday.

With the support of the Arlington Public Library and UTA Libraries, ArlingonCon celebrated its 5th year at the University of Texas at Arlington’s E.H. Hereford University Center. ArlingCon 2019 was funded in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services through a grant to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

The convention featured workshops and panel discussions as well as a Cosplay Runway, Cosplay Contest, Vendor and Artist Hall, Exhibit Hall, and a Game Room. For the first time this year the convention also featured local authors and artists for discussions and book signings.

This family friendly event created an educational and welcoming environment for those new to pop culture conventions. Several experienced cosplay talent also mixed and mingled at the event. The event has grown consistently over the past five years. Over 3,000 people were in attendance this year.

“Your Way,” the New Interactive Sculpture for Arlington to Enjoy

By
Kitan Lawson
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Arlington Library Art Scuplture

Art is a cross-cultural, as-old-as-man range of expression that has told the human story as far back as we know. And that will continue as far forward as we go. Art connects people of all cultures and all walks of life, never failing to extend through time and transcend whatever barriers may be momentarily present.

Everyone benefits from experiencing art in some form (or in several). There are measurable benefits of making and enjoying artwork. And, of course, children exposed to art at a young age ultimately see an enormous impact on their lives and development.

Being exposed to art and the artistic process at a young age fosters creativity, it promotes
healthy expressionism (both in an artistic sense and in a purely emotional sense), and it makes important neurological connections that can translate to better problem solving skills. In other words, introducing children to art can make them smarter and more in touch.

It’s no wonder, then, that the City of Arlington is excited to have received a new piece of
interactive art. Arlington is no stranger to welcoming public art for residents and visitors to
enjoy—sculptures and public exhibits can be found throughout the city. But this new sculpture is especially exciting for its appeal to families and children.

The new, public sculpture was donated by the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Arlington Youth
Foundation and can be found in the very heart of the city.

Unveiling of Arlington Mirror Sculpture

The interactive exhibit is titled “Your Way,” and is a mirror labyrinth created by Danish artist Jeppe Hein. Jeppe Hein is currently based in Belgium. Having studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Art, he has worked and has exhibits around the world. His interactive exhibits, such as Arlington’s own mirror labyrinth, are marvels wherever they pop up and combine elements of minimalism with humor.

This sculpture was welcomed with visitors from the Dallas Cowboys—of course including the mascot Rowdy and the Rhythm and Blue Drumline.

As visitors approach and enter the sculpture, the mirrors reflect them along with the surrounding scenery, ultimately exhibiting and appreciating the citizens of Arlington and the city around them. Truly, it is a love letter to the city and the people who live here.

Your Way was donated and dedicated in the spirit of the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Arlington Youth Foundation mission to enrich the quality of life for all of the youth of Arlington. And this they do, through supporting the football and athletics programs, adding to the health and wellness programs, and by supporting education and the arts.

Sculpture Plaque

Make sure to visit the exhibit. It is located between City Hall and the Downtown Library. Get lost in the reflections of yourself, those around you, and the City of Arlington!

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