Go Big and Green

Celebrate the planet at bigger and better-than-ever Earth Day Texas

Unless you’ve been flying around outer space for a light year or two, you know that Earth Day celebrations kick off across the globe in April. But did you know the world’s largest celebration of the big blue marble is about to go down in Dallas?

Earth Day Texas takes place April 26-27 at Fair Park, and this family-friendly festival features more than 800 exhibits and activities. Among the highlights:

Let Loose: Channel your inner child and run wild and free at the Global Inheritance’s Energy Playground. Here, your age doesn’t have to be in the single digits to play on a see-saw, swing set or human hamster wheel.

Go Climb a Tree: It’s not every day that you get a lesson like this. Learn how to climb a tree from Tree Climbers International, the world’s first school for recreational tree climbers.

Rainy Day Activity: Rain Ranchers, a company specializing in rain water harvesting systems, shares green practices (as in good for the environment and your wallet) such as harvesting rain water with rain barrels and practicing sustainability with urban chicken coops.

Pedal to the Metal: Experience the green power of many popular electric and hybrid vehicles, including the Tesla Coop and Roadster, Fisker, Nissan Leaf and Hybrid Pathfinder, and Lexus Hybrids. (Tesla is offering ride-alongs while BMW is allowing test drives.)

Works of Art: Enjoy several art exhibits, including Robert Haas’ National Geographic Aerials and Tom Uttech’s paintings and photographs.

Meet Famous Change Agents: Famous faces such as Ed Begley Jr., actor, director and environmentalist; Chad Pregracke, CNN Hero of the Year and founder of Living Lands & Waters; and David Mizejewski, National Wildlife Federation naturalist and media personality, will be on hand for talks and meet-and-greets.

It’s the Little Things:A Bed Over My Head, an organization dedicated to living with less, talks about downsizing and lifestyle repackaging.

That’s Entertainment: Support young musicians with the inaugural Earth Day Texas Rising Stars Music Competition and Talent Showcase, and also enjoy live music, dance performances and other entertainment.

Listen to the Experts: Learn from experts on panels discussing alternative energy, water infrastructure and environmental initiatives in cities around the state, as well as farmers and chefs discussing sustainable food practices.

Your friends at the nonprofit Earth Day Texas Inc. (EDTx) are the organizers behind this important event focused on environmental awareness and healthy living. This year, Earth Day Texas focuses on the theme of water conservation, a subject that has hit home as parts of Texas struggle with drought and low water supply.

The message from EDTx is that everyone — from business executives to parents and their children — have a significant impact on environmental health and awareness.

All ages are welcome to join Earth Day Texas. Admission is free, and you can even take DART’s Green Line to the Fair Park stop. For a complete schedule of events, visit the website. You can also follow Earth Day Texas on Facebook and Twitter and download the iPhone app.

Visit the Home Depot exhibit at Earth Day Texas.

Photo courtesy of Earth Day Texas

Visit the Home Depot exhibit at Earth Day Texas.

unspecified promoted

Politics News

Dallas narrows down field for new city manager to 4 candidates

Photo by R K on Unsplash

This is an Dallasite's sign to launch that small business they've been dreaming of.

After six months without a city manager, the city of Dallas has narrowed down the field of replacements to four semifinalists including one serving as current interim city manager, plus candidates from Fort Worth, Michigan, and Georgia.

Dallas has been without a city manager since May, when previous city manager T.C. Broadnax left to take a job with the city of Austin. Since that time, Broadnax's former chief of staff Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has served as interim city manager.

The city retained Baker Tilly, a consulting firm, to recruit and compile candidates. (Baker Tilly famously erred in the brochure it created for the position by featuring a photo of the Houston skyline instead of Dallas; they've since replaced it with Dallas.)

A spokesperson for Baker Tilly did not respond to inquiries but according to D Magazine, an email listing the candidates has been sent to the Dallas City Council.

The semifinalists include:

Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, Dallas’ current interim city manager
William Johnson, an assistant city manager in Fort Worth
Mark Washington, the city manager of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Zachary Williams, a county chief operating officer in Georgia

All have more than 25 years' of public administration experience and have worked in similar capacities in their respective cities.

Before working in Fort Worth, Johnson was Baltimore’s transportation director and Atlanta’s deputy chief operating officer and public works commissioner.

Washington worked in Fort Worth and Austin before becoming Grand Rapids’ city manager.

Williams has mostly worked in Georgia at the county level, including serving as county manager in Fulton County and chief operating officer in DeKalb County.

Tolbert began working for the city in 1998, first as the city manager’s assistant and later in the aviation department. Broadnax hired her as his chief of staff in 2017.

Unlike the Mayor and the Dallas City Council, the city manager position in Dallas is not elected but is instead appointed by the city council, and is tasked with executing policies, overseeing the annual budget, and managing staff at city hall.

The council’s Ad Hoc Committee will choose finalists, introduce them to the public, and make an offer in early 2025.

politics