Year: 2023

City of Van Alstyne, Texas > 2023

Old Fashioned Christmas, December 2nd

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Mark your calendars for December 2nd in Van Alstyne! With it being our 150th Anniversary, the theme for this year’s holiday events is “Old Fashioned Christmas” and we are kicking off the holiday season in a BIG way! The Van Alstyne Christmas Parade through downtown will kick off the festivities at 2pm as well as a Christmas Market on Marshall.

Register to participate in the parade here. There will be three categories for awards this year.
1.) Best of the Best
2.) Best use of the theme (“Old Fashioned Christmas”)
3.) Best Holiday Spirit

You can also find a Christmas Market and DJ on Marshall Street, face painting, bounce house and slide, photos with all of your favorite Christmas characters and then join us for the Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6pm at the Central Social District Park.

 

There will also be live performances in the Central Social District Park starting at 5:30 by the VAHS Choir, VAHS Band, Certain Music, Rogers Martial Arts and Fierce Motions in Dance. And if you think we’ve forgot about the big guy, you’re mistaken! Santa & Mrs. Claus will be in attendance for free photos as well from 2-5:30.

In addition to our wonderful December 2nd activities, we hope our entire community will participate and help decorate our incredible town for this year’s holiday season.  Van Alstyne Parks and Recreation department is hosting a Decorating Contest and we invite all Van Alstyne homes & businesses to participate by submitting a photo of their home/business decorated for the ‘Old Fashioned Christmas’ theme. Submit a photo by emailing it with your address to khessel@cityofvanalstyne.us by December 14th.  Voting will take place on the Van Alstyne Parks & Recreation Facebook page and the photo with the most ‘likes’ wins! Winner will get a $50 Visa gift card.

 

Crystal DeBacker
Media Coordinator
City of Van Alstyne

cdebacker@cityofvanalstyne.us
903-357-1088

City of Van Alstyne, Texas > 2023

Van Alstyne Now Has A Media Coordinator

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The City of Van Alstyne has hired me, Crystal DeBacker, as their Media Coordinator. My job is to make sure the residents of Van Alstyne, future residents, and surrounding community members are informed on what Van Alstyne has to offer and what is to come.  You’ll get weekly updates here and on YouTube, as well as urgent announcements as needed.

If there is a topic you would like additional information on, you can find announcements on our website here where you can type your topic in the search bar. If you do not see the topic you are interested in, please submit your request with this form.  The request goes straight to me and I will pull from these requests as I create content. If I have already shared about that topic, I will send you the information for your reference and I’m happy to discuss further.
The City of Van Alstyne’s goal is to proactively communicate as the true authority on matters community members are interested in.

I look forward to adding value to my community and assisting in the sharing of information in a variety of mediums to reach every one of our wonderful community members!

Crystal DeBacker
Media Coordinator
City of Van Alstyne

cdebacker@cityofvanalstyne.us
903-357-1088

City of Van Alstyne, Texas > 2023

Van Alstyne Historical Museum Has A New Location

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Wednesday, November 1st, 2023 was the incredibly well attended ribbon cutting for the new location of the Van Alstyne Historical Museum at 130 N Waco St. in Van Alstyne.

This home was built around 1890 on the east side of town and was moved to its current location a few years later. It is a wonderfully appropriate setting to host the Van Alstyne Historical Museum and is a “museum within a museum” as Mayor Jim Atchison explained.

The museum is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 1pm – 3pm. Private, group tours can be arranged with museum Director, Teddie Ann Salmon, 903-814-1735. Parking is plentiful at the new location and it is conveniently located between the Van Alstyne Public Library and the Van Alstyne US Post Office.

Check out the KXII story on the new location here.

City of Van Alstyne, Texas > 2023
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Get ready to deck the halls and trim the trees, all of them!

The City of Van Alstyne invites anyone with a home or business with a Van Alstyne address to participates in our first holiday decorating contest!

Submit 1 photo of your home or business decorated for the holidays and the address. After verification, the photo will be posted on our Van Alstyne Parks & Recreation Facebook page and the photo with the most ‘likes’ wins! Winner will receive a $50 Visa gift card and a year of bragging rights!

Submissions are accepted 11/27/23-12/14/23

Online voting will take place 12/15/23-12/17/23

Submit 1 photo of your home/business and address to khessel@cityofvanalstyne.us to be considered

Winner will be announced 12/18/23 here on our Facebook page.

City of Van Alstyne, Texas > 2023

From the Desk of the City Manager

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City Project Updates

 

Nunnalee Ave. Imp:

DDM Construction Project Manager: Alex Bernard

Sanitary Sewer Line A is 95% complete on East side of Nunnalee from VA Pkwy
north to Baldwin. One manhole (at VA Pkwy) is left for installation.
Sanitary Sewer Line B is 90% complete on West side of Nunnalee (SSB) from VA
Pkwy north to Texana.
Storm collection box culverts and pipe are being installed along the East side of
Nunnalee. Gas line crossings have been lowered by Atmos. Storm pipe
installation will re-start Oct 23. Junction box at VA Pkwy and at Balwin is
complete.
Water line replacement has commenced from North to South along the West
side outside the curb line.
Pavement concrete is scheduled to start in late November.

Preston St Imp:

Vessels Construction Project Manager: Bill Vessels

Sanitary manhole, collection piping, lateral and clean out installation is
progressing north from VA Pkwy. It is now 90% complete to Tolson.
Storm collection pipe installation at the Van Alstyne Pkwy intersection has been
completed.
Water line (cir 1980) has been located at a VERY shallow depth along the west
curb line of the proposed concrete road. Public Works has decided to replace
this line immediately. Plans have been completed and pricing is underway.
Pavement subgrade preparation has been delayed until after completion of the
additional water line from VA Pkwy to Tolson.

Rail Car Renovations:

ByDesignAssociates Project Manager: LuAnne McCarter

Field progress on relocated rail car.

 

Downtown Imp Phs 3:

Quality Excavation LLC Project Manager: Shane Stone

Start of the utility construction was delayed from October 16 due to contractor
not having updated CAD drawing of the modifications along VA Pkwy.
A hand sketch was provided on Wednesday Oct 18 and re-mobilization is expected on October 23.
CAD drawings are expected early this week , however contractor
has communicated that this will not delay the restart.
Project will start with Sanitary sewer improvements on VA Pkwy and Water
main replacements on VA Pkwy and N Main.

Collin McKinney Pkwy:

Mario Sinacola & Sons Project Manager: Jordan Baker

Lane markings have been installed and the road was opened to traffic on Friday
October 20. Staff is working with Sinacola to complete the installation of the

directional signage and speed signage before the substantial completion walk-
thru.

 

750,000 Gallon EST:

Landmark Structures low bidder

Project bids were received. Landmark Structures have been awarded the
project. GTUA is preparing contracts and coordinating with the TWDB.
Expect to finalize a start date with GTUA and contractor by late October.

 

Hynds Park:

Mobilization of grading equipment and mass grading is underway.

Progress is as scheduled.

Lincoln Pk Road:

Roadway striping, directional signage and speed signs were installed before

October 13. Road is open to traffic.