Look forward to just expanding your world.

They're interested in the classes, they can call our phone number, which is eight one seven four five nine six nine one two.

They can email us at L IB Adult Education at Arlington TX.gov, or they can actually even um go through the website and click on any of those.

All of the classes are free as long as you qualify.

One of the bigger qualifiers is that you do have to live in Terran County, but most of the people that come here are from Arlington anyway, but you do have to be a Tarrant County resident.

And I never want anyone to think that the library is a scary place.

We want everyone to come and utilize all of our resources.

No one should ever stop learning because that helps you gain a lot of experience in life.

But also they should know that these programs are available if they want to improve something in their life.

So I grew up in Virginia.

When you come from where I come from, when you've seen the things that I've seen, you realize that one of the reasons that we have so much suffering in the world is because we don't have enough people that are not just fulfilling their dream but fulfilling their purpose.

We're put here to serve other people, and I just want to do the best I can.

No one knows how much time they have here on earth.

And I want to make the maximum impact I can while I'm here.

Single mom, raising three kids.

I'm the oldest.

So no health insurance, didn't make a lot of money, very few options for health care.

So when you're in that situation, what happens is people just end up suffering.

And so at 12 years old, it was the first time I thought I'm gonna be a doctor.

17 years old, left, went to the Air Force, and when I got in the Air Force, I had a medical job.

Having that medical, well, good evening, everybody.

Uh welcome to the Arlington City Council.

We'll go ahead and call the evening session to order.

I'm gonna invite Reverend Lori Key from the Renewed Life Church to come forward for an invocation.

Please stand if you can.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

Individual with liberty and justice for all.

Honor the Texas flag.

I pledge allegiance to the Texas one state under God.

Thank you.

You may be seated.

Check, check, check.

I want to invite Jesse where there you are.

Jesse, bring everybody.

Jesse Minton with the police department, our APA president, police association president.

Are y'all, PJ, get up here.

This is something that's really, really cool that I want to do a proclamation on tonight.

Whereas during Christmas time in 1985, Arlington police officers were dispatched to a domestic disturbance and discovered a family in need.

Whereas officers detective Troy Medina, where are you, Troy?

Troy's here with us tonight.

He's almost as old as I am.

Troy Medina and now Shirts Police Chief, James Lowry, along with their fellow officers, came together to collect funds and gifts to provide that family with a meaningful Christmas, restoring power, stocking groceries, providing a Christmas tree, and gifts for the children.

And whereas this compassionate act of service grew into the Santa Cop, a 40-year community tradition led by the Arlington Police Association Foundation and the Arlington Police Department in partnership with AISD dedicated to creating a memorable Christmas for less fortunate children in Arlington.

And whereas over the years the program has evolved from officers providing Christmas trees, food and gifts to families and their beats and hosting an annual party at the Arlington Convention Center to providing toys and supplies to over 500 children.

And whereas the SantaCop program identifies families through officers, social workers, and counselors at targeted AISD schools with strong community support from many local organizations.

And whereas we celebrate and honor this extraordinary tradition that embodies community compassion and the spirit of giving.

Now therefore, I, Jim Ross, mayor of the city of Arlington, Texas, do hereby commend the Santa Copram for 40 years of remarkable service to make a kid's Christmas.

Thank y'all so much.

Thank you so much, Mayor.

Like you say, uh, we're better together, and uh, couldn't uh certainly with the team that we have in place between the Arlington Independent School District and the officers and members you see uh behind me here.

Officer Carla Strausser was our chair this year and uh has put everything together.

This will be her last Santa Cops as she prepares to retire next month.

Um Jeff McCurdy is uh helped us out with the uh Margarita ball, and they helped provide the toys for us.

He's the president of that group, and uh of course we have uh Lynn and PJ and Troy who have been part of this program for a long time.

And I just want to thank those Marine Corps toys for Tots when we first started.

They were strong with us only your discussion, but they were very very helpful.

Troy just wanted to thank the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program that helped them when this started out, uh like he said in 1985, 40 years ago.

Thank you so much for this proclamation, Mayor.

We really appreciate your recognition.

Okay.