Spread the Love to help kids

It's not too late to help give Mesquite kids a healthy start to the new school year. 

Donate jars of nut butters, seed butters and jelly during the annual Spread the Love collection campaign, which runs through Labor Day (Sept. 2).

The City partners with Sharing Life Community Outreach to distribute food collected through this program to provide nutritious food kids can make at home by themselves.

Visit www.cityofmesquite.com/SpreadTheLove to see details and where to drop off items, or donate financially online at sharing.life/donate.

Labor Day closures, Council to meet 9/3

All City of Mesquite offices will be closed on Sept. 2 for the Labor Day holiday.

The Mesquite Metro Airport and the Compost Facility and Convenience Center will remain open that day. Commercial and Residential trash will be picked up, but recycling will not be collected.

Also, the City Council usually meets on first and third Mondays of the month, but the first Monday in September is Labor Day.  So instead, the Council will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 3.

To find out more about City of Mesquite holiday closures and service impacts, please visit www.cityofmesquite.com/Holidays.

Butterfly Ball, Trash Bash in September

In September, Keep Mesquite Beautiful will hold its major fundraiser and signature community cleanup event.

First up is the 2nd annual Butterfly Ball on Saturday, Sept. 7. The theme for this year’s fundraising gala is “The Butterfly Effect.” The event will be from 6-11 p.m. at the Mesquite Convention Center and will feature dinner, drinks, live music, dancing, silent auction, and more. Learn more and buy tickets at www.cityofmesquite.com/ButterflyBall.

Later in the month is Trash Bash from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28. 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.

'Clear the Shelters' free pet adoptions

The Mesquite Animal Shelter is once again participating in the national Clear the Shelters campaign that promotes pet adoption and donations. 

On Saturday, Sept. 7, the Animal Shelter will host a special one-day adoption event, waiving all fees. Shelter pets available for adoption are sterilized, vaccinated and microchipped. Leading up to the one-day event, the Mesquite Animal Shelter is reducing pet adoption fees throughout the month of August to $10 for all available animals.

Not able to adopt a pet? Financial contributions or donations of items are welcome during Clear the Shelters month. Find out what to donate and see the shelter’s Amazon Wish List at www.cityofmesquite.com/AnimalServicesDonations.

Visit www.cityofmesquite.com/AnimalsInTheShelter to see the pets currently in the shelter. The Mesquite Animal Shelter is located at 1650 Gross Road. Operating hours are 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The shelter is open from 1-5:30 p.m. on Saturday and is closed on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Make plans to remember the fallen
at Patriot Day event on 9/11

The City of Mesquite will host a brief Patriot Day memorial ceremony at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at Mesquite Freedom Park to honor those who lost their lives in the 2001 terrorist attacks.

The public event will include the Mesquite Police and Fire Honor Guards, Mesquite Fire Department Pipes and Drum Corps, and performances by choir students from Mesquite High School and a kindergarten class from Florence Black Elementary.

Mesquite Freedom Park, which features an actual piece of steel from one of the original Twin Towers destroyed on 9/11 in New York City, is located on the North Lawn of the Mesquite Arts Center, 1527 N. Galloway Ave. Learn more about the park at www.cityofmesquite.com/MesquiteFreedomPark.

Movies in the Park on 9/14

Everyone is invited to enjoy an evening of family-friendly fun and entertainment at Movies in the Park, from 7-10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14, at Rorie-Galloway Day Camp, 3100 Lawson Road in Mesquite.

Attendees can enjoy free outdoor games and face painting before the main event. As dusk falls, a screening of “Trolls Band Together” will premiere. Patrons are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to enhance their movie-watching experience.

Admission to Movies in the Park is free. Food from DonutNV and Fera’s Grill will be available for purchase. Popcorn will also be sold; all proceeds will benefit Boy Scouts of America. For more information, please call 972-216-6260 or visit www.cityofmesquite.com/MoviesinthePark.

School's back in: please drive safely

Students across Mesquite have returned to school. Mayor Daniel Alemán, Jr., and all the Councilmembers send best wishes to all students, parents, teachers, administrators and school staff for a wonderful school year.

The City is reminding everyone to pay extra attention in school zones and crosswalks. No texting while driving, no cell phone usage in crosswalks, watch for children when driving near schools, stop for school buses and please, “Drive Like Your Family Lives Here.”

Visit www.DriveLikeYourFamilyLivesHere.org to learn more about the City’s safe-driving campaign.