District 5 picnic to be held on April 20

City Councilmember B.W. Smith will host the District 5 Picnic at 11 a.m. on April 20 at Rutherford Recreation Center, 900 Rutherford Dr.

Residents in District 5 are invited to meet their Councilmember and their neighbors while enjoying some food.

This is a rain or shine gathering. In the event of inclement weather, we will move the picnic indoors. Join us!

Other District picnics coming up soon include:

• District 1 at 12:30 p.m. on April 27 at Florence Ranch Homestead
• District 4 at 12 p.m. on May 18 at Evans Recreation Center

Not sure which City Council District you live in? Click here to find out: https://bit.ly/CouncilDistrictsMaps.

In-person hours, cash payment changes in Utility Billing

Effective May 6, 2024, in-person hours for the Utility Billing office will change to 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Also, change for cash payments will be made in whole dollar amounts only. Additional change due less than $1 will be applied as a credit to your next bill. Cash customers can still pay with exact change.

To learn more, please visit www.cityofmesquite.com/UtilityBilling.

Trash Bash community clean up

Keep Mesquite Beautiful will hold its signature community cleanup event, Trash Bash from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturday, April 27.

Trash Bash is an opportunity for families, neighbors and groups to enjoy the outdoors and help beautify the Mesquite community.

Volunteers are asked to pre-register to help event organizers coordinate supplies and cleanup site locations. Learn more and register at www.cityofmesquite.com/trashbash.

Catch some fun at Family Fish, April 20

Grab your gear and get ready to catch some fun with the City of Mesquite’s Family Fish on Saturday, April 20.

The free event for all ages will be held from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at City Lake Park, 200 Parkview St.

The first 100 kids at the event will receive a free fishing rod while supplies last. Fishing bait, hooks and other materials will not be provided.

Family Fish attendees will have the opportunity to participate in the smallest or largest fish tournaments for prizes.

For more information, visit www.cityofmesquite.com/FamilyFish.

Spring Book Sale set for April 26-27

The Friends of the Mesquite Public Library will host the Spring Book Sale on April 26-27.

The twice annual sale benefits the Mesquite Public Library System and features gently used books and DVDs. Items may include children’s books, fiction, cookbooks, popular movies and more available for reasonable prices.

The book sales are vital to the Library because they pay for programs, prizes and giveaways, artwork at the Library and much more. Cash or checks are the only payment forms accepted.

The Spring Book Sale will be held at the Mesquite Main Library, 300 West Grubb Drive, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 26, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 27. Learn more at www.cityofmesquite.com/Library.

Mesquite again named a Tree City USA

For the 34th consecutive year, the City of Mesquite has been named a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation.

To be recognized as a Tree City USA community, cities must meet four requirements: maintain a tree board or department, have a tree-care ordinance, dedicate an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and host an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

Mesquite has planted more than 31,000 trees throughout the community since the inception of its Urban Forestry Program in 1988.

Started in 1976, the Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. More than 3,600 communities nationwide have earned the designation.

To learn more about the Tree City USA program, visit www.arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.