NewsFlash-July 12

The Town of Sunnyvale earned communications honors from international and statewide awards programs. The Town Council formally received the awards at its July 8 meeting.

“Our Town leadership has greatly increased its focus on communicating and engaging with our community,” says Sunnyvale Mayor Saji George. “These awards are just one indication of the progress we’re making in this area. I’m proud of our team’s hard work and the recognition that has come with it.”

The Town’s “Sunnyvale State of Town 2023” video recently received a Platinum honor for the video category of the 2024 Hermes Creative Awards. The video showcases Sunnyvale’s 2023 accomplishments and 2024 priority projects. Sunnyvale Mayor Saji George discusses the Town’s strong economic growth, street improvements, traffic safety upgrades and residents’ heightened sense of community throughout the video.

The Hermes Creative Awards, administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, is an international competition to honor creative professionals involved in the concept, writing and design of traditional and emerging media. Judges are industry professionals who look for companies and individuals whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence. Of the more than 6,500 nomination entries submitted for this year’s Hermes Awards competition, only about 17% won Platinum, the top award.

The Town’s efforts to find a forever home for a sweet dog named “Bear” was recognized with two awards from the Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers (TAMIO).

When the Texas Rangers were playing in the World Series in October 2023, Sunnyvale staff realized that one of the starting pitchers and one of the animal shelter pets, Bear, had something in common – one blue eye and one brown eye. They put Bear in a Texas Rangers bandana and snapped a few photos of him to feature on social media, in hopes that Rangers pitcher Matt Scherzer would catch that winning vibe! They also hoped Bear would get a little extra attention and find a forever home.

This entry won a TAMI Award in the Best Photography category and an Award of Honor in the Best Social Media Post category. The judges loved the photograph and praised the Sunnyvale team for seizing the opportunity to capture the community’s spirit in a memorable way. The judges were also delighted to see that Bear was adopted.

The TAMI Awards program recognizes excellence in local government communications from across the state of Texas. More than 600 entries were submitted in the 2024 program.

Special storm-related pickup services have concluded. However, residents can contact Republic Services to coordinate disposal. Going forward, any debris will be subject to Republic Services' bundle rule and will be picked up as part of their regular service.

Citizens will need to separate fence pieces from tree debris piles and regular trash, as the Mesquite Composting Landfill will not accept treated wood found in wood fencing. The wood fence pieces will need to be cut into four-foot sections for Republic Services to pick them up. If fence pieces cannot be cut into four-foot sections, please call 972-203-4165 to coordinate disposal by July 15.

If you have questions, please contact the Town of Sunnyvale at 972-203-0325.

May to November is mosquito season in Dallas County. Those pesky bugs can carry diseases such as West Nile Virus. We are all reminded to use the 4Ds to help reduce the chance of being bitten by a mosquito.

• DEET All Day, Every Day: Whenever you’re outside, use insect repellents that contain DEET or other EPA approved repellents and follow instructions.
• DRESS: Wear long, loose, and light-colored clothing outside.
• DRAIN: Remove all standing water in and around your home.
• DUSK & DAWN: Limit outdoor activities during dusk and dawn hours when mosquitoes are most active.

For more information, visit the Dallas County Health & Human Services website.

The Vineyard Park soccer fields are closed for repairs. The Sunnyvale Parks Department will post a notification when repairs are complete. Please stay off of the grass areas during this time.

The Sunnyvale Animal Shelter will host its monthly pet adoption event from noon to 3 p.m. at the Mesquite PetSmart, 19175 LBJ Freeway. Come visit us and find a new furry friend. Visit our Petfinder page or call (214) 862-4525 to find out more.

- Dagny is a 15-week-old Domestic Shorthair Tortishell. She is full of life and love. Dagny has a sweet, friendly personality that's sure to make you smile. She is a curious little one, always eager to explore new nooks and crannies. Playtime is her favorite, where Dagny is full of energy and always ready for a game.

- Starfire is a 12-week-old, solid black Domestic Shorthair. She is a kitten with a big personality packed into a small package. Her days are filled with fun, from chasing imaginary bugs to pouncing on her own shadow. Starfire is always on the go, curious about everything around her.

- Oreo is a 19-week-old, black-and-white Domestic Shorthair. She is as sweet as the cookie she is named after and just as irresistible! Her youth is filled with boundless energy and curiosity. She is a mellow fellow and is always ready to show affection. Most of all, she is a loyal companion ready to make a family happy!

We currently have many adoptable animals in our shelter looking for a new place to call home. Learn more by visiting our Petfinder page or calling (214) 862-4525.

Each week will feature Read S'more Story Times on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Make Camp Crafts every Thursday at 2 p.m. Venture into the woods on Fridays at 2 p.m. for Campfire Fun with amazing storytellers, musicians, puppeteers, and more. It's all happening at the Doris Padgett Public Library, 402 Tower Place.

Weekly Door Prize: Keychain Light

Where stormwater flows, everything goes. Pet waste is a pollutant when it washes into sewers and downstream. Pick up after your pets! Be #StormwaterSmart!