M A Y O R S

Mansfield is bustling with activity during the winter months. There is a lot for both residents and guests of our city to explore. Do you have unwanted hazardous materials in your home? The household hazardous waste drop-off is for you. You can safely dispose of your hazardous material Thursday, February 9 through Saturday, February 11, at our Environmental Collection Center located at 616 S. Wisteria St. You can bring everything with a warning label, recyclables, and any electronics you no longer need. The center will be open from 3 to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. How about having fun with the whole family? Join the Parks and Recreation department for a chillin’ good time at "Frozen Fest," Saturday, February 11th. Participants will explore frozen experiments, create tracks in the "snow," learn about animals in winter, enjoy a guided story walk, and embark on a self-guided scavenger hunt through the woods. Dress up like a

In 2022, we made get leaps in recovering from the pandemic, with a healthy economy, robust construction and development and a number of major accomplishments, including: decreased property tax rate by ½ cent; and increased Homestead Exemption by 2.5%, saving homeowners money. We launched Via Grand Prairie on-demand ride-share transportation and implemented a new higher living wage for city employees. We opened Bolder Adventure Park in EpicCentral, landed Major League Cricket USA who is converting the former ballpark to a cricket stadium, and announced Bass Pro Shops, Andretti Karting and Games and BigShots Golf coming to Grand Prairie on SH 161 in 2023-2024. To facilitate traffic and public safety, we broke ground on widening Wildlife Parkway from Beltline straight through to SH 161, which will be complete in 2024. And, named a street in snowman to win a prize!

Later in the month of February, you can participate in the "Tutu Fun Run." Join us for a free 2.2-mile fun run at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, February 22 (2/22) at McKnight Park East. Participants are encouraged to wear their best tutus to the race. It's too cute and too silly to miss! Prizes will be awarded for the most creative tutus, fastest or slowest runners, and too many more to count! I hope to see you there!

There’s a lot going on around The American Dream City this month. One exciting development is construction on the new Active Adult Center on the southwest corner of the current Pierce Burch Water Treatment site. We’re expecting great things from this center which is scheduled to open in winter 2024 and offer a range of programs and amenities to keep our active adult population (ages 50 and up) even more active.

If you’re looking for some unique family fun this month, plan to visit River Legacy Nature Center to check out the traveling exhibit Here Be Dragons: From Lizards to Legends. The interactive, family-friendly exhibit invites you to learn about dragons and lizards within medieval themes, Asian cultures, and paleontology. Kids can play paleontologist as they uncover fossils in the dig honor of Dolores Huerta, celebrating her work as a civil and labor rights activist. As Grand Prairie continues to grow in our southern most area at SH 360 and SH 287, we’ve acquired land for a future Fire Station 11. We are looking forward to these new businesses now open or opening in 2023 along SH 161: Hobby Lobby, Dutch Brothers, Lucky’s Hot Chicken, Salad N Go, Rosa’s Mexican Café, Bahama Bucks, Tropical Smoothie Café, Alamo Drafthouse, Blue Goose Cantina, Pop Shelf, Braums, Jersey Mike’s and Five Guys. And Suntex Marinas is elevating the restaurant and boating experience at Lake Joe Pool. pit, put on a dragon-themed puppet show in the Royal Puppet Theatre, and meet six live lizards from around the world including a white throat monitor lizard. But hurry! The exhibit is only here through February 11th.

Lots happening in Grand Prairie. Let’s have a great 2023!

February also means the start of baseball season. Whether you’re taking in a Texas Rangers game at Globe Life Field, cheering on your favorite high school, junior high, or little league team, or taking to the field yourself, I hope you’ll get a chance to enjoy our beautiful February weather and this uniquely American pastime and passion. Maybe I’ll see you there.

FEBRUARY 10

EUNICE @ DOTTIE LYNN VALENTIINE PARTY

Arlington Parks and Recreation

Enjoy chocolate dipped snacks and Valentine games. 10am-12pm. Must preregister by calling 817-575-8295. Space is limited. Free. Ages 55+. Dottie Lynn Rec Center, 3200 Norwood.

FEBRUARY 10

PARENT’S NIGHT OUT

Arlington Parks and Recreation

Enjoy a night out while we have some fun! A great opportunity for youth to hang out after school playing games, crafting and more. 6pm-8:30pm. Ages 5-12. Cost is $15/child. East Rec Center, 1817 New York. Visit our website to register.

NATURALLYFUN.ORG

FEBRUARY 10

Daddy Daughter Dance

Grand Prairie

Come and have a memorable night with the theme: Roaring 20’s. Includes a dinner, dance and a gift for daughters. Limo rides and photos will be available for an additional cost. Ages 5+. $35 per person. 6:30pm-8:30pm. Dinner served 6:30pm7:30pm. Dance is held at the Ruthe Jackson Center, 4113 Carrier Pkwy., but registrations are done at Charley Taylor Rec Center only. To register call or visit Charley Taylor Rec Center, 972-339-3770.

FEBRUARY 11

EVENING BY THE CAMPFIRE

Mansfield

Sit by a roaring fire at Rose Park. Make s’mores, stargaze, sing and listen to stories behind the common constellations. All ages. 6pm-7:30pm. 303 N. Walnut Creek Dr. Visit our website to register.

MANSFIELDTEXAS.GOV

FEBRUARY 14

VALENTINE TOT PARTY

Arlington Parks and Recreation

Come by for a morning filled with Valentine crafts, fun games and special treats. This come and go event is designated for 5 and under and we ask that all participants are escorted by a guardian 18 years or older. Ages 6mos-5 years. 10am-12pm. $15. Dottie Lynn Rec Center, 3200 Norwood. To register visit our site.

NATURALLYFUN.ORG

FEBRUARY 20

REC 2 YOU

Arlington Parks and Recreation

Let us bring the fun to you! Come together with friends, neighbors and the staff at Dottie Lynn for interactive games, sports and other engaging activities. It’s time to play! All ages. 1am-2pm. Free. Visit our website to register.

NATURALLYFUN.ORG february 4

SMOOCHES 4 POOCHES

Arlington Parks and Recreation

25 cent kisses and puppy wishes! Make your and our Arlington Animal Shelter’s residents dreams come true. Come out to this family Valentine’s event where we’ll have photo and adoption opportunities, as well as snacks and crafts. Ages 5-12 11am-1pm. $6/child. East Rec Center, 1817 New York. Visit our website to register.

NATURALLYFUN.ORG

MARCH 4

DADDY DAUGHTER DANCE

Arlington Parks and Recreation

An Evening Under the Stars! The Bob Duncan Center will be transformed into an illuminating Grand Ballroom perfect for making memories. Individual tickets include a corsage, light refreshments, dessert, professional photographer, keepsake souvenir tickets on-site and parting gifts for daughters. Registration is Feb.1-26. $39. Tickets are sold per person.4-6pm and 7-9pm. Visit our website.

NATURALLYFUN.ORG see more events in your area on LIVINGMAGAZINE.NET

FEBRUARY 24 // THE RELUCTANT TRAVELER

APPLE TV+

This eight-episode series follows Eugene Levy as he explores remarkable hotels and cultures in some of the world’s most beautiful and intriguing destinations in Costa Rica, Finland, Italy, Japan, Maldives, Portugal, South Africa, and the United States.

FEBRUARY 12, 1999 // BLAST FROM THE PAST BRENDAN FRASER, ALICIA SILVERSTONE, CHRISTOPHER WALKEN, SISSY SPACEK DIR. HUGH WILSON (GUARDING TESS)

Born and raised in a bomb shelter by his doting mother (Sissy Spacek) and his mad-scientist father (Christopher Walken), Adam (Brendan Fraser) has lived a simple childhood filled with Perry Como records and good old-fashioned family values.

Thirty-five years later, he emerges into a fast-paced modern world in search of supplies and a simple girl from Pasadena. Instead, Adam meets Eve (Alicia Silverstone), an L.A. woman jaded about life and burned by love. This romantic comedy about loving with a pure heart and enjoying the simple things in life is a great addition to your Valentine’s Day movie rotation.

FEBRUARY 7 // SOMEONE ELSE’S SHOES

BY JOJO MOYES

FEBRUARY 17 // P!NK

TRUSTFALL

FEBRUARY 3 // SHANIA TWAIN

QUEEN OF ME

FEBRUARY 10 // PARAMORE

THIS IS WHY

Nisha Cantor lives the globetrotting life of the extremely wealthy until her husband announces a divorce and cuts her off. Nisha is determined to hang onto her glamorous life. But in the meantime, she must scramble to cope — she doesn’t even have the shoes she was, until a moment ago, standing in.

That’s because Sam Kemp — at the bleakest point of her life — has accidentally taken Nisha’s gym bag. But Sam hardly has time to worry about a lost gym bag — she’s struggling to keep herself and her family afloat. When she tries on Nisha’s six-inch high Christian Louboutin red crocodile shoes, the resulting jolt of confidence makes her realize something must change — and that thing is herself.

Full of Jojo Moyes’ signature humor, brilliant storytelling, and warmth, Someone Else’s Shoes is a story about how just one little thing can suddenly change everything.