This ‘n Data

HOW’S THIS FOR A HAT TRICK?

Tom Grieve

RANGERS HONOR RETIRING LEGEND TOM GRIEVE

The Texas Rangers last month honored Tom Grieve for his remarkable 55year career with the franchise that wraps up with his retirement this month.

Grieve spent all but one of his 56 seasons in professional baseball as a player, executive, and broadcaster with the Senators/Rangers franchise.

To honor the local legend, the club gave away Tom Grieve Bobblehead dolls to fans at a September game, during which the Rangers wore vintage uniforms from Grieve’s days as a player.

Grieve threw the ceremonial first pitch at the game. In addition, the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation presented the University Little League of Fort Worth with a grant in Tom’s name.

Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Michael Jacobson and his wife Kristen had quite an eventful stretch recently. The couple welcomed their first grandchild, Bennett, to the world on Aug. 30, the same day they celebrated the 96th birthday of Michael’s father, Dr. Bruce Jacobson. Meanwhile, Michael and Kristen also found time to mark their 39th wedding anniversary.

RAISE YOUR HAND if you took part in a lock-in at Big Wheel Skateland in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Keep that hand up if you had to explain to your children what a Big Wheel was and how it was important to you.

ARLINGTON

BY THE NUMBERS

$100 million

The annual amount of economic output for the City of Arlington and Tarrant County produced by Texas Live!

Source: arlingtontx.gov

32

The number of years (at least) the Texas Rangers will be playing in Arlington, per an agreement between the club and the city.

Source: arlingtontx.gov

0.73

The percentage of growth rate of the population of Arlington in 2022.

Source: worldpopulationreview.com

24

The number of footballs the Dallas Cowboys are required to provide at each game, per the NFL.

Source: sportskeeda.com

If you’re due for a Covid-19 booster, know that they are available at the ArlingtonTx Fire’s Public Health Unit, which offers shots to the public twice a week. The address is 2920 S. Cooper St.

NEW CITY BUDGET WILL PRODUCE ANOTHER CUT IN PROPERTY TAX RATES

The Arlington City Council last month approved the $597 million Fiscal Year 2023 operating budget, which includes the largest property tax rate reduction in the past 30 years, and increases for residents’ water rate, the garbage collection rate and stormwater fee.

Plans for next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, include investments in public safety, city streets, buildings and other public infrastructure, and support for Arlington’s award-winning parks and recreation amenities. This includes new playgrounds, smoother parking lots for park patrons and money to make sure parks services are equitably accessible for residents.

The City Council also voted to lower the Arlington property tax rate for a seventh consecutive year – this time by two pennies. The City’s property tax rate, which is currently $0.6198 per $100 of assessed value, will be $0.5998 per $100 of assessed value.

The Council also reauthorized a variety of residential property tax exemptions, including the largest homestead exemption by state law of 20% of the property value. The City also offers a senior tax freeze as well as $60,000 exemptions for those who are over 65, disabled veterans and disabled persons. Exemptions are also available to surviving spouses of U.S. Armed Forces members and first responders who are killed in action. Seniors over the age of 65 in Arlington may also be eligible to defer payments.

The City’s budget and business plan is built around supporting the City Council’s six priorities: Build Unity, Champion Great Neighborhoods, Support Youth and Families, Invest in Our Economy, Enhance Regional Mobility and Leverage Technology.

For more: tinyurl.com/2x66cdm4

Jim Minge

MINGE APPOINTED TO DAMC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jim Minge, CEO of Texas Trust Credit Union, was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Downtown Arlington Management Corporation (DAMC).

Texas Trust has been a premier partner of the DAMC since 2016 and creator of the DAMC’s annual Dream Builder award.

Minge serves on various civic and community boards and contributes to making downtown Arlington a prime destination.

“Downtown Arlington has become a vibrant community again with a mix of retail boutiques, restaurants, cultural events, and new residential developments,” Minge says. “It’s a privilege to serve on the DAMC Board with other business and community leaders who are doing their part to revitalize downtown Arlington.”

#atpetofthemonth

This is Pixie Patterson, and she is a Shih Tzu. She is the imperial size (smaller size), and in this picture she was 3 months old. – Brenda Patterson

TRIO HONORED BY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Three Arlington men – David Sargent, Richard Greene and Randy Ford – were presented special awards last month at the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Show dinner and awards event.

Sargent, shareholder of the StripeA-Zone pavement marking company, and Greene, who served as the mayor during pivotal years in the city’s history, were presented with Star awards.

Ford, the owner who turned J. Gilligan’s Bar & Grill into one of the city’s premier restaurant gathering places, was presented the Business Hall of Fame award.

3 Scoops

1. The Spa at The Sanford House is offering a new Hydrafacial service. A powerful, nonabrasive process, hydradermabrasion removes dead skin cells and impurities while simultaneously infusing moisturizing serums into the skin. For more: 817-861-2129.

2. LaSharndra “Sharn” Barbarin, CEO of Medical City Arlington, was recently honored by the Dallas Business Journal as one of 25 Women in Business Awards recipients. Known for her servant leadership and community commitment, Barbarin is highly regarded by the area’s business community, the magazine noted.

3. The Mansfield 2022 Fall Sweep litter cleanup project will take place from Oct. 1-20. Volunteers are invited to pick up litter at locations throughout Mansfield. For more information, call Rebecca Sales at 817-728-3610.

CODE COMPLIANCE RECENTLY HONORED

Arlington’s Code Compliance recently received the 2022 International Code Council Community Service Award. Code Compliance Services Director Brian Daugherty attended the annual ICC conference held this year in Louisville, Kentucky on Sept. 13, 2022, to accept the prestigious award.

The ICC Community Service Award recognizes outstanding service that promotes public health, safety and welfare. Code Compliance in Arlington has new innovative programs that increase community engagement, provide essential services and build public trust while helping create and sustain healthier, safer and more beautiful neighborhoods.

CURNUTT & HAFER HAS BEEN LAUDED AS ONE OF THE AREA’S BEST PLACES TO WORK

Curnutt & Hafer, LLP, a downtown Arlington law firm, was recently awarded one of Fort Worth Inc. Magazine’s annual “Best Companies to Work For” awards. The full-service law firm, founded by partners Kelly Curnutt and Doug Hafer, specializes in business formation and litigation, personal injury, estate planning and inheritance disputes, family law and oil and gas matters. Curnutt & Hafer is staffed with experienced attorneys and paralegals recognized for their dedication – not only to the legal profession, but also to the firm’s creed: SEEK bottom line results, SERVE with excellence, DO the right thing. This corporate creed sets the tone for how the firm does business with others and how they treat their own team.

The “Best Companies to Work For in Tarrant County” program is judged based on policies and practices, including work-life balance, training, career development and charitable contributions among other key aspects that impact the corporate culture.

“We consider this award as a real testimony to doing business the right way, where employees and their talents and skills are celebrated,” said Doug Hafer, a founding partner of the firm. “We work to embrace the whole individual. Whether it’s allowing time off for volunteer work, serving on community boards, hosting events designed for employees and their families to enjoy, along with more traditional benefits such as generous health and 401K plans, we want our corporate culture to attract and retain the best attorneys and staff.”

UTA SELECTS 2 NEW VICE PRESIDENTS

The University of Texas at Arlington recently named two new vice presidents.

Yolanda Bevill will serve in the new role of vice president for marketing, messaging and engagement.

John R. Davidson is the new vice president for business and finance and chief financial officer (CFO).

Bevill has more than 25 years of marketing and communications experience, most recently at Colorado State University.

Davidson brings more than 20 years’ experience in government and higher education finance leadership positions to his new role at UTA, where he had been serving as interim CFO since February. His new role took effect Aug. 22.