Photo courtesy of Red Bull USA.

By Amanda Casanova 

Irving will welcome competing teams of homemade, human-powered flying machines in September for the Red Bull Flugtag.

The event, named for the German word for “flying day,” will feature flying machines, each piloted by a participant that will flutter off a 30-foot ramp and then splash into Lake Carolyn.

Notable crafts that have been built for the event in other cities include a winged dog, a giant soccer ball, an oversized iPhone and a “Wagon family truckster” replica from “National Lampoon’s Vacation.”

The Irving City Council voted unanimously on Feb. 7 to approve a special event permit for the one-day event.

The maiden flight of the Salamacow was not without its difficulties during the Red Bull Flugtag event held in Miami, Fl 2012. Photo courtesy of Red Bull USA.More than 150 people are expected to participate when the event comes to Irving on Sep. 21, according to City staff, and the event could draw up to 50,000 spectators.

Teams will be judged in three categories: creativity, distance and showmanship. Rules include building a machine that floats and uses environmentally friendly materials.

That same day in September, other Flugtag events will take place across the country, including in Long Beach, CA, Chicago and Tampa, FL.

The record for the longest flight in a Flugtag competition is 229 feet. The record was set May 28, 2012 in Germany.

Comprised of students from the Art Institute of Miami, Team $2.50 is hopefully not a comment on much a fine arts degree is worth on the open market. Photo courtesy of Red Bull USA.

Although this archaic looking flying machine did not beat the 229 ft record, at least it crashed in the San Francisco water with style. Photo courtesy of Red Bull USA.

By Amanda Casanova

The consultant hired to help the City redevelop Heritage Crossing will make a presentation to the public on Feb. 28.

Most recently, the Irving City Council voted to approve the sale of about 20 acres of residential land in the Heritage Crossing area in hopes that contractors purchasing the land will spur development in the downtown district and give life to a long dormant plan to jumpstart Heritage Crossing.

The consultant, Gateway Planning, will make recommendations to the City after spending about 60 days gathering public input and researching the area. The City Council will then hire a developer to oversee any approved projects. Scott Polikov, company’s president, has said he hopes Gateway Planning will be hired for the work.

"Heritage Crossing offers as much potential for a vibrant urban neighborhood as any location you've seen in the Metroplex," Polikov said at a meeting in January. "We hope to attract quality developers both inside and outside the city who are embraced by the neighborhoods."

The company has helped to overturn downtown areas in McKinney, Roanoke and Duncanville.

In McKinney, Gateway Planning helped develop a revitalized downtown area with transit-oriented plans, new businesses and better parking. In 2010, McKinney was named by Yahoo! Real Estate as the fifth best place to live in America largely because of its “gem of a downtown,” the article read.

Some Irving citizens have said they are worried about another plan to revive Heritage Crossing. The City of Irving has seen hopeful plans for the area in the past.

In 2008, developer Delbert McDougal released plans to gut Heritage Crossing and revamp it with new offices, parking garages and apartments. The plan never gained support from the public and last year, the City cut ties with the developer.

Gateway Planning will make its presentation at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 28 at City Hall.

Bringing the city’s concerns to Austin, City Manager Tommy Gonzalez, Councilman Gerald Farris and Chairman of the Chamber Board Daryl Walker represent Irving on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives. Photo by John Starkey.

Irving Mayor Beth Van Duyne discussed issues facing the city when she hosted key Texas lawmakers at this year’s “Big City Mayors’ Legislative Briefing” Feb. 8 in Austin.

“I appreciate the effort and interest of state lawmakers in taking the time to brief us on upcoming legislative issues as well as listen to our needs and challenges,” said Mayor Van Duyne. “The meeting provides a tremendous opportunity to discuss significant issues we face in our cities every day.”

Mayor Van Duyne hosted 14 mayors and one council member from across the state who represent the largest municipalities in Texas. They include Betsy Price, Fort Worth; Julian Castro, San Antonio; Robert Cluck Arlington; Paul Harpole, Amarillo; Lee Leffingwell, Austin; Mike Rawlings, Dallas; John Cook, El Paso; Ronald Jones, Garland; Annise Parker, Houston; Raul Salinas, Laredo; Phil Dyer, Plano; Nelda Martinez, Corpus Christi; Mark Burroughs, Denton; James A. Thompson, Sugar Land; Council Member, Ray Lopez, San Antonio.

“I also appreciate the opportunity to network with other Texas mayors because, as mayors of the largest cities, we share many of the same challenges: the effects of a prolonged statewide drought, transportation needs in anticipation of predicted significant future growth and providing solid educational opportunities to ensure our businesses have a deep talent pool from which to draw. We have much to discuss,” Van Duyne said.

Well represented, politicians, civil servants, business people and every day citizens took time out of their busy schedules to convey Irving’s interests to the state legislature during Irving Day in Austin on Feb. 11. Photo by John Starkey.

Source: City of Irving

By Amanda Casanova 

Irving Cares, a nonprofit agency, will ramp up security at the facility temporarily after a fatal stabbing occurred on the property in December.

The Irving City Council unanimously voted on Feb. 7 to reprogram about $5,600 in Community Development Block Grants for increased security at Irving Cares, 440 South Nursery Rd.

With the money, Irving Cares will contract with off-duty police officers to provide 154 hours of additional security at the food bank. The off-duty rate to hire the officers is about $35 an hour.

The temporary program is an eligible use of the funds, according to City staff documentation.

Irving Cares provides financial assistance for rent, mortgage, utilities, or prescriptions; an employment services program and transportation to medical appointments, but the bulk of its work is the food pantry.

In December, just three days after Christmas, an Irving man fatally stabbed his wife at the food bank.

Roy Lee Gooden, 47, and his wife, Sharon, came together to the facility where Gooden became angry and started stabbing Sharon. A security guard detained Gooden, and he was booked into the Irving city jail on a murder charge.