Some Low-Water Trees...

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1 City News April 2014 Issue 23 Caring for Trees in the Drought Trees have suffered greatly during the past few years dealing with weather that has included the exceptional drought along with record high and low temperatures. The current water restrictions in place call for no outside watering, but there are still some things to do in order to help save the trees. Compost to enrich the soil, but do not fertilize Properly mulch the root zone. Expand mulched area as far out to the dripline as possible, but do not place mulch against trunk. Limit pruning to broken and/or dead branches that might be a safety hazard and follow Oak Wilt prevention pruning guidelines. Avoid using weed and feed products, they can damage tree roots. Do not fertilize a tree that is under drought stress. Salts in fertilizers may burn roots when there is not sufficient water. Fertilizers may also stimulate top growth resulting in too much leaf area on the plant for the root system to maintain during periods of limited soil moisture. Keep your trees healthy and pest free. Postpone any construction activities planned near a tree to reduce impact to the trees roots. If the tree has any insect or disease problem that may be adding additional stress treat them accordingly to reduce the overall stress to trees. Properly prune trees and shrubs during time of Some Low-Water Trees... Desert Willow Texas Red Oak Eve s Necklace Mesquite Live Oak drought to improve structure, limb stability and to remove dead and weakened branches. Leaving broken, dead, insect-infested or diseased branches can further weaken a tree during drought and set the tree up for deadly secondary insect and disease problems. One of the best thing you can do for trees is to protect their root systems. Remove weeds and grasses around the perimeter of trees to reduce competition for water and nutrients. Turf conflicts with the presence of trees because they compete for the same resources. --Waterwise Austin --Colorado State University

2 Health Health Fair Happenings April 5th 9 AM - 1 PM rd Street Free Testing & Screenings Blood pressure and glucose checks, cholesterol screening, body fat testing, HIV testing, counseling services. Food Demos Healthy food samples Education American Heart Association, tobacco cessation, immunications, WIC, car safety seats, chronic illness (85 boths in all!) Vin Etching The WFPD will be available to etch vehicle identification numbers onto vehicle windows - free! Family Fun ZUMBA (YMCA),Pueblo Boxing, Breathe Yoga, Middle Eastern dance, and kids...did we say... KIDS!!! Bike Rodeo For school-age children. Bring bikes and learn about safety tips, maintenance. Participate in the bike course. Kids must be accompanied by an adult. FREE bike helmets to be given away while supplies last. Fun for Pets Animal Services, Obedience Training Club, PAWS for Greatness, PETS Clinic, and PETS Pantry will be holding a pet contest, K-9 walk, free micro-chipping (if you are scheduling your pet for spaying or neutering) - or will offer the service for $15.

3 Library Hurry to the Book Sale! The Friends of the Wichita Falls Public Library announce the next Major Half-Price Book Sale on Saturday, April 5, The Friends Bookstore on the first floor of the library will be open for the sale on Saturday from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Children s and young adult books are also available for purchase for only 25 cents each. The Friends book warehouse at 2404 Grant Street, at the intersection of Avenue N and Hollywood, will be open from 10:00 AM - 6 PM with two new large donations on display for everyone to view. Free books are available for church pastors, church libraries and home-school students. Most of these books are available at the warehouse. The Friends of the Library organization is an allvolunteer, charity-based, non-profit organization that supports the library, its programs for children and youth, juvenile literacy and the ever entertaining Dr. Seuss Birthday Party. For further information, find them on Facebook as Friends of the Wichita Falls Public Library to keep up-to-date with all the latest happenings. At the Library Preschool Storytime Tuesdays from 10:30-11:00 AM Activity Room Babygarten Thursdays from 10:30-11:30 AM., Activity Room Toddler Time Wednesdays from 10:30-11:00 AM Activity Room Youth Crafts Every other Tuesday (April 1, 15, & 29) from 4:00 to 5:00 PM in the Activity Room City Council dates April 1; April 15. Meetings begin at 8:30 a.m. in Council Chambers at Memorial Auditorium, 1300 Seventh St.

4 Birthday Party - April 1, 10:30 AM Texas Hold em Special Tournament April 2, $3 per person, lunch at 12:30 Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 5 th - 3:00 PM At: Lucy Park Parks and Recreation Tournament: 1PM - 4 PM Senior Idol Talent Show and Lunch: April 23, 11 AM in the Zone Ballroom. Performers must sign up by April 19th at the Zone. Sign up required also to attend lunch by April 21. Free Mary Kay Facials - April 24, 2-3 PM, Room 215 Bingo: Free Prize - Tuesdays, 9-10 AM Bingo: Cash - 2 PM Karoke: Mondays 2-4:30 PM Tuesdays 2:45-5 PM Thursdays 1:30-4 PM Ages: 3 yearsold through 2 nd grade Free! Rain Out Date: April 12 th Movies: Tuesdays - 1:30 PM & 5:30 PM Movies: Thursdays - 1:30 & 5:30 PM Movies - New Release Friday: The event is for children ages 3 through the 2nd grade is sponsored by University Kiwanis Club. Thousands of individually wrapped candy Easter suckers will be scattered over the grounds in a designated area of Lucy Park. This year there will be approximately 100 specially marked prize eggs that children may find and claim a variety of Easter prizes. Children should bring baskets or sacks for the hunt and come early to meet the Easter Bunny and McGruff, the crime fighting dog. For safety and convenience, there will be 2 areas available for the children to hunt for eggs. Ages 3 & under will be located in one designated area, while ages 5 through the 2nd grade will be located in an adjacent designated area of the Park. Members of the University Kiwanis Club and Parks & Recreation staff will provide supervision. Participants are highly encouraged to come early, because parking becomes a premium as hunt time approaches. The hunt starts at 3:00 sharp! For more information, call

5 City News April 2014 Safety The Wichita Falls Police Department Financial Crime Unit has been investigating credit card fraud cases that have involved several victims. The fraudulent charges to date were made in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Investigators remind citizens to always check credit card statements. If fraudulent charges have been made to a credit card, take the following steps: 1) Contact the bank or financial institution to cancel a card. 2) Note all places the card was recently used. 3) Note where the fraudulent charges occurred. 4) Contact the Wichita Falls Police Department front desk at (940) to make a report. Neighborhood Etiquette Good fences make good neighbors, My neighbor tried to get me to gang up on but sometimes it is necessary to mend another neighbor who left some debris in an inconspicuous spot in his front yard. I stayed out those fences. Whether it s cranking of it because I felt it was better than a full scale music at odd hours or their dog war. favors your yard, neighbors often get on that last nerve. According My former neighbor got angry when our guests parked in front of her house. I knew I couldn t to a recent findlaw.com survey, 4 control everyone, but I told regular visitors to in 10 Americans have clashed with avoid that spot. people living nearby. Here are some common issues and possible Neighbors 101: 1) Be courteous approaching your neighbor solutions: My neighbor s dogs barked whenever they saw me, so I hoped they needed to get used to my presence, I spent more time outside, and now the barking has decreased significantly. I love hosting dinner parties, but the elderly woman next door always complained about the noise. I offered to cut the music earlier, and it helped keep the peace. about problems. 2) Be willing to compromise. 3) Be respectful. 4) Unless the situation is unlawful or dangerous, use the reporting method as a last resort. 5) Avoid urges to get even. 6) Do your part to keep the peace so everyone can enjoy themselves at home. City News is produced by the City of Wichita Falls Public Information Office. For more information, call (940) or lana.broussard@wichitafallstx.gov.

6 Events discover that Knowledge is Superpower! Melody House was established in 1971 and has become a leader in the development of educational recordings. At the time of its inception, Melody House was one of only a handful of recording/publishing houses committed to the development and distribution of quality children s music. Today, Melody House meets the needs of both educators and parents and continues to produce a unique brand of upbeat music that is enjoyable and educational. It s all about superheroes with superpowers! Join Stephen at the College of Knowledge to discover that the most important power is contained within the brain. Have fun with an interactive celebration of music and learning combined with an hour of moving to the music. Grab your cape, your mask and use any power at your disposal to join in and Cattle Barons Ball This biannual event benefits the American Cancer Society. Grab your cowboy couture gear and join in the fight to find a cure for cancer. Fabulous live and silent auctions, midway games and raffles, spectacular food and drinks plus stellar live entertainment featuring: Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan For more information about tickets/table reservations, call April 10th Memorial Auditorium 10:30-11:30 AM $5.00 each for Groups of 5 or more, $6.00 each for 4 or less April 5 & 6 5:30 PM 12:30 AM JS Bridwell Ag Center Baron Ticket: $200 each Wrangler Ticket $150 each

7 Information Beneficial Houseplants Having good indoor air quality is very important, especially since many of us spend so much time inside. NASA did a study to find out which plants were best to filter the air of the space station, and the agency s findings were particularly favorable for the following plants: English ivy (Hedera helix) Golden pothos or Devil s ivy (Scindapsus aures or Epipremnum aureum) Peace lily (Spathiphyllum Mauna Loa ) Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum) Bamboo palm or reed palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii) Snake plant/mother-in-law s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata Laurentii ) Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron oxycardium, syn.philodendron cordatum) Selloum philodendron (Philodendron selloum) Elephant ear philodendron (Philodendron domesticum) Red-edged dracaena (Dracaena marginata) Cornstalk dracaena (Dracaena fragans Massangeana ) Gerbera daisy or Barberton daisy (Gerbera jamesonii) Janet Craig dracaena (Dracaena deremensis Janet Craig ) Warneck dracaena (Dracaena deremensis Warneckii ) Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) Pot mum or chrysanthemum (Chrysantheium morifolium) Rubber plant (Ficus elastica)

8 City News April 2014 Water Wise Xeriscape Benefits Saves water creating limited turf areas. For most of North America, over 50% of residential water used is applied to landscape and lawns. Xeriscape can reduce landscape water use by 50-75%. Less Maintenance. Aside from occasional pruning and weeding, maintenance is minimal. Watering requirements are low, and can be met with simple irrigation systems. No Fertilizers or Pesticides. Using plants native to your area will eliminate the need for chemical supplements. Sufficient nutrients are provided by healthy organic soil. Improves Property Value. A good Xeriscape can raise property values which more than offset the cost of installation. Pollution Free. Fossil fuel consumption from gas mowers is minimized or eliminated with minimal turf areas. Small turf areas can be maintained with a reel mower. Provides Wildlife Habitat. Use of native plants, shrubs and trees offer a familiar and varied habitat for local wildlife. Be successful with Xeriscape by: Determining what plants are available locally - plan accordingly. Improve the soil. Mulch. Minimal maintenance is a benefit, watch for weeds when newly establishing a landscape. Learn more about native plant gardening at enature.com search database for trees, shrubs, flowering plants and cactus that are suitable for the north Texas climate.--eartheasy Sustainable Living

9 Things to do MSU Artist Lecture Series Presents: Ethan Zohn April 3, 7:00 PM - 9:00 Midwestern State University - Akin Auditorium Juanita Harvey Art Gallery Receptions: Rigoberto A. Gonzales and British Studies Group Photography April 4, 6:00 PM - 8:00 Juanita Harvey Art Gallery MSU Festival of One-Act Plays April 4, 7:30 PM - 9:30 Fain Fine Arts Bea Wood Studio Theatre Peter Pan The Musical April 4, 7:30 PM - 10:00 Wichita Theatre 55 Advantage April 10, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Wichita Falls Wildcats NAHL Playoffs April 11, 7:00 PM - 9:30 Kay Yeager Coliseum MSU Festival of One-Act Plays April 11, 7:30 PM - 10:00 Fain Fine Arts Bea Wood Studio Theatre Provenance Historic Home Tour April 12, 8:00 AM - 5:30 Various historic homes throughout the city. Contact Wichita County Heritage Society, T.H.O.R. - Texoma s Hellacious Obstacle Run April 12, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM The Kemp at the Forum: Renaissance of the Forum April 12, 7:30 PM - 11:00 The Kemp at the Forum Texoma Messianic Synagogue presents: Jesus in the Passover April 18, 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM The Missing Piece Bullies for Autism April 19, 11:00 AM - 7:00 JS Bridwell Ag Center River Bend - Love of Nature Photo Show and Competiton April 21, 9:00 AM - 5:00 Kemp Center for the Arts Texas Alliance of Energy Producers Oil & Gas Expo April 22, 5:30 PM - 10:00 PM Texas Oklahoma Barrel Racing Association Jackpot April 22, 7:00 PM - 10:00 JS Bridwell Ag Center Casting Crowns with Colton Dixon April 24, 7:00 PM - 9:30 Kay Yeager Coliseum MSU Festival of One-Act Plays April 25, 7:30 PM - 10:00 Fain Fine Arts Bea Wood Studio Theatre DodgeBall Tournament: Habitat for Humanity April 26, 8:00 AM - 3:00 MSU Gymnasium Texoma All Breed Horse Show Association Kick Off Show April 26, 9:00 AM - 5:00 JS Bridwell Ag Center Red River Wine Festival April 26, 6:00 PM - 11:00 J.S. Bridwell Ag Center Hoof Care for the Horse Owner April 27, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM