Home Care In Southlake, TX

Carroll ISD board president Cameron Bryan said some teachers and administrators have been "afraid" to openly recognize Christmas.

SOUTHLAKE, Texas — Carroll ISD board president Cameron Bryan this week called for the district to refer to “Christmas break” rather than “holiday break” during a discussion about the district’s 2024-25 calendar, which was approved at the Dec. 18 board meeting.

Bryan also said, without citing specific examples, that he’d heard from some teachers, administrators, and parents that they were “afraid to openly recognize this holiday on our campuses due to fear of retribution.”

“I have, as I’m sure we all have, received several correspondence this month from the district referring to a ‘winter break,’ ‘winter parties,’ ‘holiday break,’ ‘holiday parties’ -- everything but ‘Christmas break’ and ‘Christmas parties,’” Bryan said. “It’s Christmas and New Year’s break, and I think the district should refer to it as such.”

Bryan cited House Bill 308, signed into law in 2013, which states, “a school district may educate students about the history of traditional winter celebrations, and allow students and district staff to offer traditional greetings regarding the celebrations, including “Merry Christmas”; “Happy Hanukkah” and “Happy holidays” in making his request.

“That is the law in Texas, so therefore, I want every Carroll ISD student, teacher, administrator, and parent to know it is OK to recognize and observe this holiday on our campuses if you so choose,” Bryan continued.

Bryan also asked Carroll ISD Superintendent Lane Ledbetter to send an email to district staff summarizing HB 308 and to include the 2013 bill. It’s unclear whether Ledbetter has at the time of this post.

Patriot Mobile Action praised Bryan's comments on X, formerly known as Twitter. Patriot Mobile, which identifies itself on its website as a “Christian, conservative wireless provider," as previously reported, has supported school board candidates, including in Carroll ISD and nearby Grapevine-Colleyville, Keller, and Mansfield districts.

WFAA reached out to Carroll ISD and board members for comment on this story, but they haven't yet responded.

For the sixth year in a row, Southlake taxpayers will see a lower tax rate than the prior year.

Council approved the proposed rate of $0.319 per $100 valuation during the Sept. 5 meeting while also approving the fiscal year 2023-24 budget. The tax rate will provide 83% of the operations budget, and 17% will go toward debt service. The tax rate for FY 2022-23 was $0.36 per $100 of valuation.

According to documents, Southlake has a combined appraisal amount of $10.56 billion from all properties in Tarrant and Denton counties. Tax statements will be generated after Oct. 1 and will reflect a reduced property tax by $0.04 compared to FY 2022-23. The proposed budget also includes keeping the 20% homestead exemption.

Southlake Chief Financial Officer Sharen Jackson noted the changes will cost the city around $9.3 million compared to last year’s rates.

An average house with a $1 million valuation would see a tax bill of $2,600, Jackson said.

Of the overall tax bill, only 12% of the bill will go to Southlake. Outstanding debt and property tax support debt will be paid off in less than 10 years, Jackson added.

In a nutshell

Jackson said the budget was a little more than $142 million, an 8.2% increase from FY 2022-23.

Water sales to residential and commercial customers as well as wastewater sales all showed an increase in terms of revenues, but the city will also be paying more for water and wastewater as well, according to documents. Residential customer water sales are expected to generate 12.3% more; commercial water sales will generate 11.9% more; and wastewater sales will generate 36.1% more.

Other notable increase include:

Quote of note

“It is a commitment from this council that we will always do our very best to be fiscally responsible because that is the right thing to do,” Southlake Mayor John Huffman said. “The money that comes into Southlake is not our money; it’s the taxpayers’ money, and I think this budget reflects that.”

A Flourish chart

Editor

Cody joined Community Impact in August 2022. He covers local and county government; and businesses in Grapevine, Colleyville, Southlake, Westlake, Trophy Club, Keller, Roanoke and Fort Worth. Prior to CI, Cody worked for various Missouri newspapers in Kansas City, St. Joseph, Maryville, Neosho and Joplin. When he is not writing, Cody enjoys attending sporting events, traveling and trying various barbecue establishments.

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Shoppers won't be able to pick up their orders as they shop at the new Southlake store, but they will be able to schedule a pick-up time for when the goods arrive.

Credit: AP

This photo shows an IKEA location in Philadelphia, Monday, Jan. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

SOUTHLAKE, Texas — Editor's note: This article was originally published in the Dallas Business Journal.

Scandinavian home furnishing retailer IKEA plans to open a new format store in Southlake later this year.

The new Dallas-Fort Worth area store, located in the Park Village shopping center at 1041 E Southlake Blvd., won't be as sprawling as your typical IKEA store. This location will span only about 10,800 square feet, and it will house a "Plan & order point with Pick-up" concept.

The Southlake location will allow customers to receive support from IKEA experts as they design and order home furnishing solutions. And while shoppers won't be able to immediately pick up the wares that they ordered, they'll be able to schedule a pick-up time that works with their schedules for when the goods do arrive.

The locale will also served as a hub for online orders, which can be delivered or scheduled for pick up at the Pick-up location next door.

“We’re excited to grow our presence and offer a new IKEA experience to our DFW area customers with convenience and accessibility in mind,” IKEA U.S. CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer Javier Quiñones said in a prepared statement. “Whether you’re looking for inspiration, need help from an IKEA design specialist or simply want to pick up an online order, the IKEA Southlake Plan & order point with Pick-up meets our customers where they are and how they like to shop.”

IKEA Southlake is the Sweden-based retailer’s third brick-and-mortar location in North Texas. The company has previously opened two of its large-format stores -- which cover hundreds of thousands of square feet -- in Grand Prairie and Frisco.

“Everything is bigger in Texas, but it doesn’t have to be further,” IKEA U.S. Market Area Manager Rob Parsons said. “We are so excited to open IKEA Southlake and get closer to our DFW customers. While the Plan & order point with Pick-up is different from our traditional IKEA store, we are continuously exploring new ways to bring IKEA closer to our customers and hope it will better meet the needs of our local customers.”

Freeplay Arlington

It’s always nice to ring in the new year surrounded by people you cherish, so join these establishments on New Year’s Eve to celebrate the coming year.

The Westin Southlake

Step into the Roaring Twenties at The Westin Southlake's annual New Year's Eve celebration in the Grand Ballroom from 9 p.m. to midnight on Dec. 31. Join the pre-party at The Curve Lounge and enjoy live music at the bar. Once the party starts, dance the night away to live music by Backbeat in a radiant 1920s atmosphere. Then at midnight, raise your glasses and toast to new beginnings surrounded by all the glitz and glam of the Great Gatsby era!

Glass Cactus At The Gaylord Texan

Cheers to the end of 2023 at Glass Cactus’ New Year’s Eve bash on Dec. 31! Party along to Nerd Halen at 8 p.m., followed by the “greatest disco band in the world” Le Freak at 10 p.m. Sample various hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, make a champagne toast and enjoy festive party favors. Then at midnight, step out onto the lakefront destination’s balcony to ring in the new year under the stars.

Free Play Arlington

Party like it’s 1994 at Arlington’s one-of-a-kind retro arcade on Dec. 31 from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Join thousands of guests in five hours of unlimited play, a midnight breakfast buffet, a champagne toast and the iconic midnight confetti explosion that will have you stepping into 2024 with a shine.

Refinery 714

Put on your dancing boots for a Western-themed New Year’s Eve celebration from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Fort Worth’s Kimpton Harper Hotel. Located on the 24th floor, Refinery 714 provides a perfect view of the night skyline, where you might just catch a couple of fireworks in the distance once midnight rolls around! Sip on signature cocktails and premium beverages while grooving to classic and contemporary hits from the live vinyl DJ.

Reunion Tower

This year, go out with a bang at Reunion Tower's eighth-edition firework show commencing at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31. The Dallas skyline will come alive with a breathtaking display of over 5,000 pyrotechnic special effects, a stunning 259 LED light display and nearly 300 drones for a truly memorable event. The tower's Crown Block restaurant will host a prix fixe dinner and celebration featuring rare steaks and gourmet seafood that will only add to one glamorous evening. You can also join local watch parties at Echo Lounge & Music Hall, Texas Ale Project and Southside Ballroom if you’re looking for a party closer to ground level.

More up-and-coming stores are headed to Southlake Town Square. Several of the brands coming will add to Southlake’s menswear options with dapper yet casual makers. A new skincare hub is also bringing luxe facials into the Southlake Town Square mix.

This is a shopping center that is undergoing a transformation of sorts.

Aritzia and Mizzen + Main opened in Southlake Town Square in June. This fall will also see the arrival of both Tecovas and Faherty. Along with cowboy boots, the Austin-based Tecovas will offer leather accessories and denim products. Faherty brings men’s, women’s and kids clothing and accessories made from premium fabrics with gotta-feel-it-to-believe-it softness.

Now, there are more new stores ready to enter the Southlake mix. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming:

The first-ever brick-and-mortar store for Johnnie-O opened in Fort Worth’s WestBend. Johnnie-O’s casual, golf and resort wear feel has become a hit. A lot of guys are wearing these clothes to work now, including professional golfers. And Johnnie-O’s is ready to grow its North Texas presence.

The stylish men’s apparel hub will be located in a 1,987-square-foot space at 1246 Main Street in Southlake Town Square.

Let's Rodeo Houston!

Dubbing itself as “the official outfitters of Friday at 5 pm,” Chubbies will open its fifth store in the United States and the first one in North Texas in time for the holiday season at Southlake Town Square. It will be located next to Vuori at 323 Grand Avenue East, with a full lineup of Chubbies signature core casual shorts available.

The fourth standalone Southern Tide shop in the U.S. is also heading to Southlake at 409 Grand Avenue East. Southern Tide is all about the coastal lifestyle and their designs allow devotees to bring a piece of the South with them wherever they go. Southern Tide is opening in a 1,476-square-foot space this holiday season.

Also set to open before the end of the year will be FOUNT, which offers American heritage leather goods. FOUNT bags are designed in Ohio. This marks the brand’s first Texas storefront, located at 416 Grand Avenue West.

Premium performance apparel brand Vuori is also slated to open this fall in Southlake at 319 Grand Avenue East, next to the newly opened Mizzen+Main. It will take over a 3,030-square-foot space. Vuori tries to exude the active coastal California lifestyle, integrated with surf, sport and art.

Finally, Southlake Town Square is getting a new skincare center. Skin Laundry will offer signature laser and light treatments to rejuvenate skin cells, boost collagen production and improve clarity for transformative results with no downtime. A medical company specializing solely in facials, performed by registered nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants trained and guided by board-certified dermatologists, Skin Laundry has clinics in Dallas and Houston already and will be located at 1520 East Southlake Boulevard.

Southlake Town Square continues evolve to new shopping times and rise.