Double Oak - Friday Updates (02/09/2024)
February of 2024 is a “Leap Year” Month
If you look at the calendar for February, you will see that we have 29 days instead of the typical 28 days. Have you ever wondered what it means?
According to Wikipedia, a leap year (also known as an intercalary year or bissextile year) is a calendar year that contains an additional day (or, in the case of a lunisolar calendar, a month) compared to a common year. The 366th day (or 13th month) is added to keep the calendar year synchronized with the astronomical year or seasonal year. Because astronomical events and seasons do not repeat in a whole number of days, calendars with a constant number of days in each year will unavoidably drift over time with respect to the event that the year is supposed to track, such as seasons. By inserting ("intercalating") an additional day, a leap day, or month, a leap month, into some years, the drift between a civilization's dating system and the physical properties of the Solar System can be corrected.
An astronomical year lasts slightl y less than 365 days. The historic Julian calendar has three common years of 365 days followed by a leap year of 366 days, extending February to 29 days rather than the common 28. The Gregorian calendar, the world's most widely used civil calendar, makes a further adjustment for the small error in the Julian algorithm. Each leap year has 366 days instead of 365. This extra leap day occurs each year, a multiple of 4 (except for years evenly divisible by 100, but not by 400).
Birthdays
A person born on February 29 may be called a "leapling" or a "leaper." In common years, they usually celebrate their birthdays on 28 February. In some situations, 1 March is used as the birthday in a non-leap year since it is the day following 28 February.
Technically, a leapling will have fewer birthday anniversaries than their age in years. This phenomenon may be exploited for dramatic effect when a person is declared to be only a quarter of their actual age by counting their leap-year birthday anniversaries only. For example, in Gilbert and Sullivan's 1879 comic opera The Pirates of Penzance, Frederic (the pirate apprentice) discovers that he is bound to serve the pirates until his 21st birthday (that is when he turns 88 years old since 1900 was not a leap year) rather than until his 21st year.
Folk traditions
In Ireland and Britain, it is a tradition that women may propose marriage only in leap years. While it has been claimed that the tradition was initiated by Saint Patrick or Brigid of Kildare in 5th century Ireland, this is dubious, as the tradition has not been attested before the 19th century.
Supposedly, a 1288 law by Queen Margaret of Scotland (then age five and living in Norway), required that fines be levied if a marriage proposal was refused by the man; compensation was deemed to be a pair of leather gloves, a single rose, £1, and a kiss. In some places the tradition was tightened to restricting female proposals to the modern leap day, 29 February, or to the medieval (bissextile) leap day, 24 February.
DOVFD Monthly Statistics
I am sharing with you the January summary. Call volume was up nearly 50% from the regular monthly average. It's likely just an anomaly, and February will be slow.
Thanks,
Chief Erik
50th Birthday Update
Plans continue to take shape for the Town's 50th Birthday Party on May 18, 2024.
Vendor Spaces Available
If you are a small business owner, artist, or crafter who would like to showcase and sell your wares during the birthday celebration, you can rent a 10’ x 10’ booth space to promote your products. We will provide the space you need to provide your canopy, tables, chairs, and whatever you need for your display.
- Rental fee: $ 50
- Time: Noon to 5 p.m.
- To learn more or to get a rental space agreement, contact Bonnie Morrow (bonnie4asl@outlook.com)
Volunteer Opportunities
On the day of the celebration, we will need volunteers to help man carnival games, give residents tickets, set up, clean up, and sell t-shirts and hats. This is just a heads-up so people can mark their calendars to volunteer. We will have sign-up capabilities in March, showing jobs and time slots available. If you volunteer for a three-hour time slot, you will receive a 50th Birthday volunteer t-shirt as a thank-you for your service. So – watch for the sign-up on the town website in March and an announcement in future Friday Blast Newsletters.
Primary Election – March 5th, 2024 – Please Mark Your Calendars
Primary Election – March 5th, 2024
On Tuesday, March 5th, 2024, primary elections will come to Denton County and the Town of Double Oak. Early voting starts Wednesday, February 20th, and ends Friday, March 1st.
Who or What are we voting on?
Voting is by and for each party, Republican and Democratic. If you are a Republican, then you can vote for Republicans. If you are a Democrat, then you can vote for Democrats.
Republicans will vote on the President, US Senator, US Representatives, Railroad Commissioner, Justices, Judges, State Board of Education, State Senators, State Representatives, County Commissioners, Constables, County Chair, Precinct Chair, and 13 Propositions.
Republicans in Double Oak have two residents running for Precinct Chair. Councilperson Mayor Pro Tem Mike Gwartney and Councilperson Jean Hillyer (Pick One). Precinct Chairs are area leaders for the Republican Party, working to elect Republican candidates to office, organizing your precinct, and helping with elections.
Democrats will vote on the President, US Senator, US Representatives, Railroad Commissioner, Justices, Judges, State Board of Education, State Senators, State Representatives, County Commissioners, Constables, County Chair, no Precinct Chair or Propositions.
Early Voting
- February 20 - 23, Tuesday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- February 24, Saturday, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- February 25, Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- February 26 March 1, Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Early voting closest location
Senior Center
2701 W. Windsor Dr. Ballroom C
Flower Mound 75028
Election Day Voting
March 5, Tuesday, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
March 5th location voting at Double Oak Town Hall
Double Oak Town Hall
320 Waketon Rd. Community Room
Double Oak 75077
The following are links to the Denton County Elections website.
Current and Upcoming Election Information - Denton County, TX Elections (votedenton.gov)
PM24-Rep_Verity_Active_Contest.pdf (votedenton.gov)
Saturday, May 4, 2024, General Election for the Town of Double Oak
The notice to apply for a place on the ballot for the Saturday, May 4, 2024, General Election has been posted. Filing starts on January 17, 2024, and ends on February 16, 2024, at 5:00 pm.
The citizens of Double Oak will elect three council members.
Candidate Packets can be picked up at Double Oak Town Hall. As Candidates file, information will be posted on the Town website. Please contact the Town Hall Administration Office at (972) 539-9464 with any questions.
In Double Oak, terms expiring are as follows:
2-Year Term:
- Council Member - Jean Hillyer (Incumbent)
1-Year Term:
- Council Member - Mark Dieterich (Incumbent)
- Council Member - Khourschid Favero Dr. "K" (Incumbent)
Double Oak Police Speed Tracker Trailer Statistics
Reminders:
The Denton County Burn Ban Is No Longer in Effect
Due to recent rainfall, Denton County Commissioners lifted the county's burn ban Friday.
Despite the removal of the ban, Friday is not considered a "good burn day" by the county due to excessive wind speed.
The disposal of vegetation by open burning is allowed in unincorporated Denton County and some cities, but only on "good burn days."
The determination of whether each day is a "good burn day" or "bad burn day" is made each morning between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.
Cross Timbers Water Regarding Stage 2 Water Restrictions
CTWS is in Stage 2-Yellow.
STAGE 2: YELLOW ODD/EVEN DAYS
- Odd/Even Outside Watering by Last Digit of Address
- Odd-numbered last digits of the address will water on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
- Even numbered last digits of the address will water on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
- Permitted Activities
- Trees, gardens, and shrubs can be watered daily if a hand-held hose, drip irrigation, or soaker hose is used.
- Filling of new pools must be scheduled, and three (3) days’ written notice must be given to Cross Timbers Water Supply Corporation’s office date. A time will be determined and assigned.
- Lawns that have just been seeded, sodded, or mulched can be mechanically watered daily for a maximum of two (2) weeks after application
- Avoid watering during the following hours 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
https://www.crosstimberswater.com
Save these 2024 dates for the 50th Birthday celebration of Double Oak!
- May 4, 2024, Auto Show and Movie Night
- May 18, 2024, 50th Birthday celebration with historical museum displays, birthday cake, food trucks, band, dancing, photo booths, contests, a ceremony to honor prior town officials, and many more fun events!
Do you have photos or memorabilia from the past 50 years that you can share with our 50th birthday committee? We plan to create a mini museum to display the progress of Double Oak over the past 50 years, so please contact us to arrange to collect or scan your documents/photos, etc.
Learn more about these details via the link on the town website Town's 50th Birthday Committee | Double Oak, TX (texas.gov)
We wish everyone a safe and wonderful weekend.
Double Oak Town Administration