LOW-COST PET CLINIC, AUG 29
CatsCare, the partnership between the Fort Worth Cats and the City of Fort Worth Animal Care and Control Division, is offering a low-cost pet license and rabies vaccination clinic 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at LaGrave Field, the Cats’ home ballpark, at 301 N.E. Sixth St.
The annual city pet license costs $7 per animal, and a rabies vaccination can cost even more. However, during this special event — held in the outfield at LaGrave — the license and the rabies vaccination together cost only $5. Pets also can be micro-chipped for $12. All lost pets are scanned for microchips when they arrive at the city’s animal shelter.
A city-issued pet license and rabies vaccination are required each year for all dogs, cats and ferrets living in Fort Worth. City licenses may be obtained with proof of a current rabies vaccination at the Animal Care and Control Center, 4900 Martin St., or from a local veterinarian.
The next CatsCare mobile adoption appearance at LaGrave Field is Saturday, Aug. 22, during the Cats’ 7:05 p.m. game with Shreveport-Bossier. Animals from the shelter will be at the stadium and available for adoption at half price. Also, fans who bring a ticket stub or print out a coupon posted on the Cats’ Web site can come to the shelter to adopt a pet for half price.
The CatsCare program promotes responsible pet ownership. Its aim is to educate the public about the need for and benefits of proper pet licensing, vaccinations and spay/neuter programs, and the availability of adoptable pets at the city shelter. To learn more, call 817-392-3737.
Source: City of Fort Worth
UTA HELPS STUDENTS PREPARE FOR SAT MATH TEST
High school students preparing to take the math portion of the SAT can receive a helping hand fall from The University of Texas at Arlington.
Tarrant County students can attend at the UT Arlington Fort Worth Center, 1401 Jones St., Fort Worth. Free SAT math prep classes are scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, Sept. 12, 19 and 26; Oct. 3, 10 and 24; and Nov. 7 and 14.
A prep class also is scheduled to meet Saturday, Aug. 29, at the Fort Worth location also meets Saturday, Aug. 29.
No pre-registration is needed.
Each class covers different material, and students may attend as many classes as they wish. Instructions are available for beginning, intermediate and advanced levels.
Students should bring a pencil and a graphing calculator if available. A limited number of graphing calculators are available on site. Students also should bring snacks or money for snacks to purchase on campus.
Other sponsors for classes are The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas A&M University-Commerce and Midwestern State University.
E-mail satmathprepinfo@sbcglobal.net for more information.
Source: UTA
A CITIZEN’S GUIDE TO THE CITY OF FORT WORTH BUDGET
Following is a link to the presentation by Karen Montgomery, Assistant City Manager with the City of Fort Worth, during the most recent Fort Worth League of Neighborhoods special event. It outlines the proposed budget for fiscal year 2010. Click here to read: A Citizen’s Guide to the City of Fort Worth Budget
WATCH FOR DETOURS AROUND WEST LANCASTER BRIDGE
Traffic is being re-routed around the West Lancaster Avenue Bridge over the West Fork of the Trinity River, which will be closed Aug. 26 to Nov. 23 for repairs. The structure is safe, but to maintain the safety of the bridge, rehabilitation and repair work are needed. The repair project will cost the city $603,000.
The existing bridge deck must be lifted to repair the spans. Crews will repair and replace the existing rockers and bearings that support the bridge deck and roadway.
Closing the entire bridge will help expedite the project by allowing contractors to work on several spans of the bridge at once. West Lancaster traffic will be re-routed as it approaches the bridge. The detour on the west side of the bridge will take motorists from University Drive or Currie Street to West Seventh Street. On the east end, motorists will detour to Summit Avenue and continue to West Seventh Street.
Emergency-response officials have been involved in the planning process and have plans to mitigate any potential delays in service. The steel-deck truss bridge was built in 1938-39 and was rehabilitated in 1999.
Source: City of Fort Worth
TREE GRANT APPLICATIONS DUE SEPT. 1
Neighborhood groups, individuals and organizations can apply to receive free trees for planting in specific Fort Worth locations.
The city’s Parks and Community Services Department is accepting applications through Sept. 1 for the 2009-10 Tree Grant Program, sponsored by the Forestry Section.
Field-grown, balled and burlapped (B&B) trees and 10- and 15-gallon container-grown trees are available free for transplanting on public property in Fort Worth. The B&B trees are available during the dormant season – usually December through March – but the container-grown trees can be planted throughout spring.
These locations are eligible to receive trees:
- street medians
- nonresidential parkways
- public parks
- Fort Worth Trinity Trails
- other public property, including fire and police stations, libraries and schools.
To learn more, visit the Forestry Section’s Web site or call 817-392-5739.
Source: City of Fort Worth
CONSERVATION DISTRICT PRESENTATION
Dana Burghdoff, Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Development for the City of Fort Worth, was also at August 24, 2009 Fort Worth League of Neighborhoods special meeting. Click here to view: Proposed changes to the City of Fort Worth Conservation District Ordinance.
LOW NATURAL GAS PRICES
http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/1552082.html
Source: Fort Worth Star Telegram
Tax Free Shopping Weekend, Aug. 21-23
Texas shoppers get a break from state and local sales taxes on August 21, 22 and 23 – the state’s annual tax holiday. Lay-away plans can be used again this year to take advantage of the sales tax holiday.
As in previous years, the law exempts most clothing and footwear priced under $100 from sales and use taxes, which could save shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend. Backpacks under $100 and used by elementary and secondary students are also exempt. A backpack is a pack with straps one wears on the back. The exemption during the sales tax holiday includes backpacks with wheels, provided they can also be worn on the back like a traditional backpack, and messenger bags. The exemption does not include items that are reasonably defined as luggage, briefcases, athletic/duffle/gym bags, computer bags, purses or framed backpacks. Ten or fewer backpacks can be purchased tax-free at one time without providing an exemption certificate to the seller.
School Supplies – New in 2009!
The 81st Texas Legislature recently passed HB 1801 (2009) expanding the list of items qualifying for exemption from Texas state and local sales and use taxes during the annual sales tax holiday in August. Effective this year, in addition to clothes, footwear and some backpacks, Texas families also get a sales tax break on most school supplies priced at less than $100 purchased for use by a student in an elementary or secondary school.
The following is an all-inclusive list of qualifying school supplies (if priced less than $100):
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No exemption certificate is required – with one exception. If the purchaser is buying the supplies under a business account, the retailer must obtain an exemption certificate from the purchaser certifying that the items are purchased for use by an elementary or secondary school student. “Under a business account” means the purchaser is using a business credit card or business check rather than a personal credit card or personal check; being billed under a business account maintained at the retailer; or is using a business membership at a retailer that is membership based.
List of Clothing, Footwear and Backpacks, and Their Exemption Status
TAX-FREE |
TAXED |
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A word of caution: If you sell items that do not qualify for the exemption, you may not advertise or promise that you will pay your customers’ sales tax. Additionally, you are prohibited from advertising that you will not collect sales tax on items that do not qualify. You may advertise that tax is included in the sales price of the taxable items that you sell, however.
For information on how to report tax on these sales, please visit Reporting Sales Tax on Tax-Free Items or call us toll free at (800) 252-5555.
Source: http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxpubs/tx98_490/tx98_490.html
School Starts Monday: Reduce Speed and Avoid Cell Phones
Cell phone use prohibited in school zone. $200 fine!
UPDATE: West Seventh Street Bridge Set to Close
Original post source: Fort Worth Business Press
“Business owners and developers along Fort Worth’s West Seventh Street were stunned at a recent meeting of the Associated Businesses of the Cultural District when they learned of plans to close the Seventh Street bridge between the Cultural District and Downtown for reconstruction for up to 10 months.” To read the full article, visit: http://www.fwbusinesspress.com/display.php?id=10693
UPDATE from City of Fort Worth as of August 20, 2009:
The aging Seventh Street Bridge, a popular east-west thoroughfare that connects downtown to the Cultural District, is due to be reconstructed next year.
The original span was built in 1913 and was expanded in 1953 when the Trinity River was rerouted and the surrounding levees were built. The bridge is not listed as a historic structure.
Beams, girders and the deck of the 1913 portion of the bridge are deteriorating.
The bridge has been determined to be safe to use. However, in the latest inspection by the Texas Department of Transportation, conducted in July, the deck was rated in fair condition (5 on a scale of 1 to 9) while the superstructure was rated a 4 (poor condition). The bridge received a sufficiency rating of 38.5 on a scale of 0 to 100.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is designing a new bridge. According to the project’s schedule, bids would be let in May of 2010, with construction completed in early 2011.
City staff is recommending a temporary detour as the safest route for traffic during construction. The detour would direct traffic south to the Lancaster Avenue Bridge, which city staff says is underused. Motorists could reconnect to West Seventh Street at University Drive or Currie Street on the west end, or at Summit Avenue on the east end of the bridge.
The temporary detour would add half a mile to the commute from downtown to University Drive and the growing retail and entertainment district on West Seventh Street.
Several efforts are being considered to minimize the effect on traffic during construction:
• Major bridge components would be prefabricated offsite to expedite construction.
• Early-completion incentives would be offered to contractors.
• Hefty penalties would be assessed for late completion.
