What’s Inside Published by the City of Richardson www.cor.net — 972-744-4104 November 2019, Vol. 32, No. 2 Response/recovery efforts underway after tornado and severely damaged more than residents’ patience as crews work 200 other properties, including to get all the debris picked up. 54 single-family homes that were The City also activated several deemed uninhabitable. mutual aid agreements it has in When first responders arrived place with local, regional and state on the scene, they found many agencies that allow the City to streets were impassable due to both offer and receive help during storm debris and downed power and after an emergency. Follow- lines. Road and utility crews ing the tornado, approximately were activated and began clearing 15 other entities sent people and streets and alleys. In the days fol- equipment to assist in fixing traffic Winter Rec Guide lowing the storm, staff from Build- signals and clearing debris among See Inside ing Inspection and Community other tasks. Services were in the area assessing City staff replaced or repaired damage. traffic signals at 30 intersections While staff from the City’s Pub- and are in the process of conduct- lic Services Department initially ing an assessment to determine removed debris from alleys and how many street signs will need to As of Nov. 1, the City’s Emer- vanced notice for people to take streets, the City hired a contrac- be replaced. The City continues to gency Operations Center remains shelter, which is largely attributed tor to monitor and manage the re- post information about the tornado under partial activation to manage for helping people in its path from moval of storm-related debris from impact on its social media and on a the response and recovery efforts suffering injuries. No injuries were public property and the public special webpage. from an F3 tornado that struck the reported due to the tornado’s im- right-of-way. With the contractor south central part of the city Oct. pact. handling debris removal, the City’s For updates, visit: 20. While people were spared, the Brush and Bulky Item Collection Annual The tornado first struck in Dal- tornado did cause significant dam- crews, as well as solid waste and cor.net/severeweather Christmas Parade las at 9:01 p.m. and hit Richard- age during the nine minutes it was recycling crews, were able to main- facebook.com/richardsontoday Registration son 20 minutes later. Richardson on the ground in Richardson. It tain their regular routes through- youtube.com/richardsoncitv outdoor warning sirens were acti- followed a 4.3-mile path into Gar- out Richardson. The City asks for richardsontoday.com Page 8 vated at 9:09 p.m., providing ad- land and destroyed 12 structures Registration for Richardson’s 47th Annual Christmas Parade to be held Dec. 7 is New technology abounds available online. Deadline to Library celebrates register is Nov. 24. at the Richardson Library 60 years of service Reception to Celebrate 60 Years Nov. 22 Page 4 While the Library has multi- basic electronic programming and A reception will be held Fri- ple floors filled with books, films prototyping to children. day, Nov. 22 from 11:30 a.m.- and other materials, there is much A portion of the basement has When the Richardson Public Library marks its 60th Anniversary later 12:30 p.m. on the first floor of more to the Library than tradi- turned into a teen-centric video this month, it will be a celebration not only of longevity but of continued the Library to celebrate the tional offerings. production studio. Studio RPL in- relevance, as the facility has remained a highly popular community gath- Richardson Public Library’s RPL offers 24/7 service through cludes an audio/video room with ering place and information source in spite of rapidly changing technol- 60 years of service. the Digital Library accessible soft box lights, a video camera, mi- ogy and “doomsday” predictions for libraries and bookstores. through the website at www.cor. crophones and acoustic panels for “We’ve always been on the cutting edge,” said Director of Library Ser- net/departments/public-library/ recording podcasts or video blogs. vices Susan Allison. “Libraries in general have been flexible to remaining digital-library. Books, audible The space is available for reserva- relevant to the community and trends going on nationally . librarians books, films, magazines, and more tions, with timeslots available most want to be the first to know and keep up with what’s going on.” are available anytime to Richard- afternoons, evenings and week- Beginning in 1944 with 400 books housed in a dry goods store on son residents with Library cards. ends. Main Street, the Library officially became a City department in 1959 Another use of new technology Finally, the Library offers with the opening of a one-story, bond-constructed 5,800-square-foot in the Library is on the second monthly education workshops to building on East Tyler Street (behind the current Public Safety Cam- floor, which houses the Library’s familiarize people with new tech- pus), with 5,000 books and vinyl records, 3,500 supplied by the Dallas computer lab with dozens of in- nology such as the 3D printer. County Library System. The Library grew to the current 81,650-square- ternet-capable computers and Workshop topics include learning foot building in 1970. Its collection, today numbering more than 288,000 wireless printing for patrons who Microsoft programs such as Word items including DVDs, audiobooks and Wi-Fi hotspots, has evolved from bring their own laptops and tab- and Excel and Adobe programs being searched for by card catalogue, checked out by a librarian using an lets. It also is home to a space such as the ones available for use ink stamp and returned via a drop box, to being searched for online (the that has been branded C-Tech @ in C-Tech, as well as websites such Library was the first City department to have a web page), self-checked RPL. The area includes not only as YouTube and software such as out using a scanner and returned on a conveyor belt guided by RFID a 3D printer, but also computers Audacity that is used to edit audio. technology. In the Library’s early days, there was a check-out limit of running the Adobe Creative Suite This month, the Library is debut- seven items per card. Today, Library card holders are allowed (for most featuring programs such as Pho- ing a new workshop on product items) 100 for a 3-week time period, with most items eligible for auto- toshop (photo editing), Premiere photography for those interested in matic renewal up to 10 times. In addition, patrons can carry a covered Pro (video editing) and Illustrator selling items on websites such as beverage throughout the Library, enjoy the free use of 38 computers, a (graphic creation). The second Etsy or eBay, and has several new video production studio and a 3D printer, and, on some floors, talk, laugh floor is also the area where you can workshops on the horizon for 2020 and even sing. check out materials such as the Ar- including podcasting and stop mo- . continued on page 4 duino and littleBits kits that teach tion animation. Page 2 Richardson Today, November 2019 Voting information for Nov. 5 elections “Vote Centers’’ available to Dallas County residents The Dallas County Elections Department is changing the way voting will take place in Dallas County Nov. This month we are celebrating 5 with new voting equipment and countywide vote centers. the Richardson Public Library’s Richardson residents who live in Dallas County may vote in the Nov. 5 State Constitutional Amendment 60th anniversary. The Library has Election and the RISD Board of Trustee Election at any polling location in the county, not just at an been an important part of Rich- assigned precinct. Early voting sites will also serve as Election Day polling locations, including the ardson for generations, transition- Richardson City Hall/Civic Center at 411 W. Arapaho Rd. ing from a place largely focused on Richardson residents who live in Collin County may vote in the Nov. 5 State Constitutional Amendment checking out books to a center for Election at any of the Collin County Election Day vote centers. learning that embraces new tech- Polling hours Nov. 5 are 7 a.m.-7 p.m. nology and features a diverse array City of Richardson Dallas County Collin County of programming and classes. One 972-744-4290 214-819-6389 972-547-1990 thing that has not changed is that www.cor.net/elections www.DallasCountyVotes.org www.collincountytx.gov/elections the Library is as important a part of our community today as it was 60 years ago. Holiday schedule, recycle makeup days The Library serves many func- Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be NO recycling, solid waste pick up or special pick up Thursday tions. It serves as a place to gather, and Friday, Nov. 28-29. There will be no makeup days for solid waste and special pick up. The table below with groups such as the Richard- Mayor shows the recycle makeup days. son Historical and Genealogical Paul Voelker Society, Richardson Civic Art [email protected] Recycle collection days affected by holiday Makeup day Society and multiple book clubs meeting at the Library each Thursday, Nov. 28 Wednesday, Nov. 27 month. It also serves as a place to ardson Public Library was born. By 1970, the Library had outgrown a Friday, Nov. 29 Saturday, Nov.