This upcoming week marks the 247th year since our country’s forefathers achieved independence from Great Britain following the Revolutionary War. Yet this date is really a misnomer, according to the Farmer’s Almanac. This long running publication states that July 4 actually marks the date that the Declaration of Independence was announced, not signed. Archives indicate that this famous document was actually voted to be accepted by the colonies on July 2, 1776 and then subsequently signed on August 2 of that same year.

John Adams, who first proposed the idea of declaring independence from England, wrote a famous letter to his wife, Abigail, about how he believed July 2nd would be a day that was remembered and celebrated in America for years to come. Apparently, everyone else remembered otherwise… So, for whatever reason, July 4 stuck as the day we do the celebrating with over 200 years of tradition to back it up. That and it was made a federal holiday in 1941.

Yes, the 4th lands on a Tuesday this year, but that’s probably not going to stop anyone from firing up their grills and cracking a cold one anyways. So, for all of you patriots and fans of freedom we’ve compiled a list of July 4th events taking place in and around the Fort Worth area.

July 4th: Fort Worth’s Fourth at Panther Island Pavilion

Tarrant Regional Water District is proud to once again bring locals a Texas-sized firework show and festival for its 16th year. Celebrate Independence Day with the largest fireworks show in North Texas at the 16th Annual Fort Worth’s Fourth. Find a spot along the banks of the Trinity River at Panther Island Pavilion and enjoy an evening of festival food, drinks, kid activities, live music, and a fireworks show. Admission is Free|5-10 p.m.| 395 Purcey Street.

June 29th – July 4th: Red, White, and Boots in Fort Worth Stockyards

Enjoy bull riding, $4 drafts, matinee broncs, live bands, and Saturday night bullfights, as the Fort Worth Stockyards celebrates America’s birthday. This event may have begun this week, but this is Texas, the parties are also bigger here. For those who are interested, you can get your patriotic party on all the way up to next Tuesday. Costs vary| 131 E. Exchange Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76164.

July 3rd: Light Up Arlington and 4th of July Parade (9am)

Residents will enjoy vendors, food trucks and live music across four different stages at this event. Concerts start at 6 p.m. outside the Arlington Music Hall and Grease Monkey, at 6:30 p.m. by City Tower at 101 S. Mesquite St. and 7 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion Arlington. This family friendly event will also feature over a dozen food trucks and a bubble bus. The fireworks display, which will blast off from the roof of City Tower, lasts about 20 minutes and starts at 9:50 p.m. Free |6 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. |101 W. Abram St., Arlington.

The following morning on July 4, the annual Arlington Independence Day parade will take place through downtown Arlington at 9 a.m.

Starting near a University of Texas at Arlington parking lot off Doug Russell Road and South West Street, the parade route goes north on Spaniolo Drive, makes a circle near City Hall and returns back on South Center Street. Free| 9 a.m. |July 4 | Starts near the intersection of Doug Russell Road and South West Street.

July 4th: Spark in the Park July 4th Fireworks & Concert with Pat Green

One of Texas country’s modern era founding fathers, Pat Green, is headlining the Spark in the Park on July 4th at the Heritage Park Amphitheater in Weatherford. The opening act will be East Texas native, Chris Colston with his “gritty Texas roots combined with a little blues and rock ‘n’ roll”. Following these talented artists is our famous fireworks show. This massive show is one of the largest fireworks displays in North Texas and can be seen from miles away. Free| 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.| 503 Santa Fe Dr., Weatherford.

July 1st -4th: Granbury’s 4th of July Hometown Celebration Granbury, Texas

Granbury’s proud tradition of celebrating Independence Day returns to a multi-day event this year, presented by the Granbury Chamber of Commerce and several other sponsors. Festivities that are sure to stir patriotic spirits begin on Saturday, July 1st thru Tuesday July 4th. There will be vendors on the square all three days. The parade will be on Monday July 4th starting at 10:00. Attendance is free.

July 3rd: Hurst Stars & Stripes Fireworks Show Hurst, Texas

The Annual City of Hurst Stars & Stripes event is Monday, July 3, at Hurst Community Park. Patrons can enjoy live music, food trucks, and a beautiful firework show. Free shuttles are available from designated parking at North East Mall. Schedule: 6:00 p.m. Micky & the Motorcars|8:00 p.m. Emerald City| 9:30 p.m. Fireworks Show| Free|6 p.m. July 3|601 Precinct Line Rd., Hurst.

July 4th: Cleburne 4th of July Celebration & Fireworks Cleburne, Texas

Vendors and food trucks will be available at Lake Pat Cleburne for the Fireworks Watching Party at Cleburne Golf Links starting at 6:30 with Live music, Great food. No outside alcohol is allowed - Alcohol, food and drinks will be sold at the event - cash and credit cards accepted. Reservations are required for the Cleburne Golf Links| $25 Per Carload - Max 8 per car|6:30 p.m.| Lakeshore Dr. free parking|For more information and cost call 817-645-2455.

July 4th: Red White & BTX 4th of July Celebration and Firewoks (Burleson, TX)

Burleson will host Red, White & BTX on July 4. The event features live music, food trucks and fireworks. Blankets and lawn chairs are welcome, but alcohol and personal fireworks are not. Before the evening festivities, Burleson’s Lion Club is hosting a parade through the city at 9 a.m.

Free | 5 p.m. July 4 | 500 Chisenhall Park Lane, Burleson.

July 3rd: Mansfield Rocks 4th of July and Fireworks

The Mansfield Rocks event will take place at Big League Dreams and Hawaiian Falls water park. Guests can bring lawn chairs and blankets, but no coolers, grills or pets are allowed. Fireworks are scheduled for 9 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the event | 6 p.m. | 500 Heritage Parkway, Mansfield.

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - After 67 years of supporting the farmers of West Texas, the Hurst family has sold their business.

Joe Hurst’s father started the business back in 1955 with two other partners. Since then the Hurst family has been a key part of the agriculture community.

“It’s been quite a while,” Hurst said. “But we really enjoyed it and we have lots of relationships that we’ve built over the years.

During that time the Hurst family’s business provided everything needed to sow a seed and harvest a boll, but Hurst says he was helping grow more than crops.

“A lot of these guys we go to church with them,” Hurst said. “Our kids go to school with them. They’re our friends and these communities that are around we’ve tried to support them in every way we can.”

After decades of serving the agriculture community, Hurst says it’s time to turn the page.

“There’s a time for everything,” Hurst said. “Enthusiastic, there’s a time for sales there’s a time for change. There’s a time for everything. We just have confidence that this is the time for us to move on.”

South Plains Implements bought Hurst Farm Supply at the beginning of November.

“We understand what it means to be a part of these communities,” part owner of South Plains Implement Scotty Johnson said. “We’re proud of that, and we just want to continue that.

With millions of acres harvested across Texas and many of those here in the South Plains, new owner Scotty Johnson says he knows he has to support the farmers doing the work.

“Agriculture is huge for the economy around West Texas and we’re just proud to be a part of it,” Johnson said.

As for Joe, he’s happy knowing he’ll leave behind more than just a supply store.

“Everybody talks about a legacy,” Hurst said. “Well, a legacy is not a building. A legacy’s not how many stores you have. A legacy is what you’ve left in the hearts of the people that you’ve served all these years.”

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"We wanted to eliminate some of the cost that citizens were incurring on bills that were not being paid by Medicare or private insurance companies," Craft said.

HURST, Texas — A North Texas town has found a unique way to help out its residents when they need to take a trip to the hospital.

The city of Hurst has an ambulance subscription service. The service started in 2004 with about 300 members and is now up to about 1,000, according to Hurst Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Brent Craft.

"We wanted to eliminate some of the cost that citizens were incurring on bills that were not being paid by Medicare or private insurance companies," Craft said. "Whatever is left over that the insurance company doesn't pay, we will write off."

And even if a citizen doesn't have health care insurance, the program covers emergency medical services delivered prior to hospital arrival. It costs $60 to join annually and enrollment for 2023 is happening now through the end of 2022.

Craft said when the city implemented this service back in 2004, it was mainly because citizens were bringing up the rising costs of health care, in general.

"We decided to try and help those families with those costs," Craft said.

Credit: Jay Wallis

Hurst firefighters check on some of the equipment inside one of the department's ambulances.

One of the Hurst citizens who takes advantage of this service is Jodi Mauldin. She has lived in Hurst for about 32 years. She recently had to go to the hospital because she was having heart problems and ended up having a stint put in.

She wasn't signed up for the service at the time and said she paid $1,000 for her ambulance ride.

Then she decided to sign up for the service. When she had to go to the hospital a second time a few years later, now being a member? She paid nothing.

"It's just a good feeling to know, 'Hey, I'm covered,'" Mauldin said. "I don't have to pay any money out of this. It's all taken care of."

Mauldin said it makes her proud of Hurst to know this service exists.

"It's outstanding," Mauldin said. "I think it's an awesome deal for anybody."

Craft said the ambulance program is revenue neutral, meaning the city ends each year about even.

"We don't typically make any money," Craft said. "Therefore it makes it easier for them as well."

Here is how the program works:

To learn more about Hurst's ambulance subscription service, you can click here.

As JCPenney continues to fight its way to a turnaround, its recently opened concept store has become the embodiment of the struggling, 117-year-old retailer's reinvention strategy.

The store — which opened on November 1 in Hurst, Texas, just outside of Dallas — includes several new features informed directly by customer surveys and data collection conducted by JCPenney over the last year. On a call with investors on Friday, CEO Jill Soltau said the store is intended to function as a "lab" for the company, where it can test new business strategies and see what sticks.

"I want to be clear that the brand-defining store is an investment in the future. It is not a prototype to roll out across all our stores and it is not a flagship store," Soltau said on the call. "There are over 100 touchpoints that will inform future actions as part of our future strategy, all focused on putting the customer at the heart of what we do."

Though the success of the store remains to be seen, it's been a much-needed bright spot for the beleaguered brand, which has struggled significantly in recent years. The third quarter of 2019 was no exception, as comparable sales decreased by 9.3%, driven in part by the consolidation of inventory and elimination of low-performing categories.

However, JCPenney showed promise in its ability to cut back operating losses and ultimately boost its profit forecast. Though an operating deficit of $97 million is certainly not indicative of a thriving brand, it's a significant improvement over the $300 million loss the company reported in the same period last year

For JCPenney, the Texas concept store — with its personal styling services, on-site barbershop, and instructor-led fitness classes — may not be a prototype, but it could help JCPenney find the way to a more prosperous future.

Here's what it's like inside.

The JCPenney concept store opened on November 1 in Hurst, Texas.

"This store is more than a renovated location, it is the fullest articulation of our customer-centered strategy, an investment in our future and a lab to inform decisions to return JCPenney to sustainable, profitable growth," Soltau said in a statement after the opening.

It opened to significant fanfare, with a full band performance and a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Several JCPenney executives, including Soltau, came to christen the new store.

The store is noticeably different aesthetically from its traditional department store counterpart, with bright lighting, innovative architecture, and shiny displays.

The product assortment is also carefully curated to better meet the demands of shoppers.

"From the moment customers walk through the doors, they will discover the assortment is thoughtfully built and organized around how they live their lives and the many different occasions in their day, week and year," JCPenney said in a statement around the opening.

It also includes several modern design elements, like this geometric seating arrangement.

The concept store includes local flare like this sign near the register that declares it "the best pickup line in Texas." It also integrates a buy-online-pickup-in-store feature.

There's no shortage of Texas pride throughout the store. Cowboys cheerleaders even came to greet fans and shoppers at the grand opening.

JCPenney is using the store to test personal styling with the launch of "The Styling Rooms," a free service for shoppers to receive personalized, one-on-one consultations with staff experts.

The Styling Rooms also include "Style @ Your Service" technology to request a new size or color from sales associates directly from the dressing room.

Technology is a major theme throughout the concept store, and it includes several interactive features and high-definition screens.

In the activewear section, JCPenney debuted "The Movement Studio," where shoppers can participate in instructor-led fitness classes, much like brands such as Athleta and Lululemon do in their stores.

North Texas chalked up another corporate headquarters move from California yesterday when Kelly-Moore Paints—a leading manufacturer and retailer of premium paints and coatings in the U.S.—announced that it will move its HQ from Northern California to Irving this year.

“We’re excited to join the Irving-Las Colinas community and to offer our employees a great quality of life in a vibrant city,” Kelly-Moore CEO Charles Gassenheimer said in a news release.

Gassenheimer told Dallas Innovates that Kelly-Moore is moving 30 employees from California and from its manufacturing facility in the DFW suburb of Hurst to support the Irving HQ’s operations. “We plan to grow the workforce in Las Colinas by an additional 40 people over the next two years,” he added.

The HQ move, and Kelly-Moore’s expanded focus, could lead to more activity at the plant in Hurst, the CEO says.

“We’re expanding beyond the contractor channel, where we’ve always been strong, to focus on bringing our high quality products to other channels, like interior design and architecture,” Gassenheimer said. “Through growing our footprint, we’ll be able to increase the total gallons produced each year and therefore more fully utilize our Hurst manufacturing plant.”

In our Q&A below, Gassenheimer talks about how his company has evolved in recent years, how it’s reducing its environmental footprint, incorporating innovation into its product development, and more.

The headquarters relocation comes after the company moved its state-of-the-art manufacturing operations to Hurst in 2017. That facility produces technologically advanced paint products with an eye on conservation. Kelly-Moore was recognized in 2022 for reduction of wastewater pollution with the Governor’s Texas Environmental Excellence Award for Pollution Prevention, presented by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

“The Hurst Manufacturing facility is the engine of our company,” Gassenheimer said in the statement. “Locating our corporate headquarters nearby enables even better production and innovation. The combination of our 157 retail stores in Northern California and the Southwest, aligned with excellence in manufacturing and distribution out of this centralized Texas base, is a formula for Kelly-Moore’s ongoing national success.”

In his comments, the CEO suggested that his company already feels at home in North Texas.

“Since centralizing our multiple manufacturing facilities in Hurst, Kelly-Moore has enjoyed all that the North Texas community offers, and we look forward to increasing our engagement with the local community,” Gassenheimer added. “I want to express my gratitude to the City of Irving, to Koa Partners, and to the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber for their support of our future in Irving-Las Colinas.”

The move was supported Thursday night as the Irving City Council voted to approve $75,000 in economic incentives for the new headquarters that will occupy 15,000 square feet of Class A office space at 500 E. John Carpenter Freeway.

The Kelly-Moore office space will be leased from the building’s owner, commercial real estate firm Koa Partners.

“We could not be happier about welcoming Kelly-Moore Paints to our building as we serve them alongside other growing companies like Neighborly and U.S. Oral Surgery Management,” Koa Partners CEO Harry Lake said in a statement.

Lake told Dallas Innovates that Kelly-Moore’s new HQ home in Las Colinas “benefits from significant investments in the amenities that our tenants have asked for, and we have provided, to make our building a truly high-performing building that supports their productivity at a tremendous value.” He emphasized “the overall quality of life” in the region, which results in “a highly talented pool of people to engage with as these world class organizations grow their business and reinforce their respective culture for the long term.”

“In addition to proving high-performing space at a great value, we have to provide them with additional support like anyone would when welcoming a neighbor to the community,” Lake added, including “places to live, eat, entertain, play, shop, exercise, educate, heal…all these things have always mattered, but now they’re highlighted as companies compete for the very best talent. Our job at Koa is to provide real estate solutions for them to compete effectively and efficiently.”

Irving Mayor Rick Stopfer added his own welcome.

“On behalf of the Irving City Council and our entire community, we’re proud to welcome the Kelly-Moore team to Irving-Las Colinas, and we appreciate their investment in our city,” Stopfer said in the announcement. “We look forward to the economic growth opportunities that Kelly-Moore will bring to our community.”

Mayor Stopfer told Dallas Innovates that the city is actively seeking to attract corporate headquarters that can take advantage of their pro-business policies, strong public-private partnerships, and excellent quality of life for employees.

“As the Headquarters of Headquarters, we are always focused on targeting corporate headquarters,” he said. The mayor said Kelly-Moore’s move is a nod to the city’s “diverse economy, talented workforce, and excellent quality of life continue to benefit our community and the region.”

The city works closely with its partners at the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber to target specific industries such as finance, healthcare, life science, professional services, and industrial technology. This focus is reflected in their recent successes in attracting “headquarter wins” such as Caterpillar and CHRISTUS, he says.

“We continue to look to attract corporate headquarters who can benefit from our pro-business policies, strong partnerships between the public and private sectors and our outstanding quality of life for employees,” he said.

“Kelly-Moore’s decision to move its corporate headquarters to Irving-Las Colinas is a testament to our business-friendly community that also offers a high-quality lifestyle for all of its team members,” Beth A. Bowman, president & CEO of the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber and Irving Economic Development Partnership, said in a statement.

The Irving Economic Development Partnership has played a crucial role in supporting Kelly-Moore Paints throughout its relocation process, according to Bowman. The partnership works with businesses to navigate regulatory and incentive structures available from the City of Irving, the county, the state, and other local authorities to ensure a seamless transition.

Our job is to remove the red tape, roll out the red carpet and make sure companies and their teams feel welcome and at home in our community as seamlessly as possible,” Bowman told us.

Bowman says the city of Irving is committed to supporting the manufacturing and distribution industry through ongoing initiatives and programs.

“We enjoy a close working relationship with Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas, Dallas College North Lake Campus, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and Oncor,” says Bowman. “These partnerships provide valuable resources for businesses looking to expand or relocate to the area.”

Manufacturers and distributors like Kelly-Moore can also benefit from Irving’s fast business permitting process, which typically takes only eight-to-ten days, she said. Additionally, the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber and the Irving Economic Development Partnership work closely with officials at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to provide clarity on permitting issues that may affect manufacturers.

Kelly-Moore Paints was founded in 1946 and is one of the nation’s largest independent paint companies, with over $340 million in annual revenues and over 1,200 employees.

The company sells 90% of its products to professional paint contractors and other trade professionals. Kelly-Moore said their end customers include residential homeowners, property developers, homeowners’ associations, and other large organizations.

In October 2022, Kelly-Moore Paints was acquired by an affiliate of Flacks Group, a global investment firm based in the United States.

Q&A with Kelly-Moore CEO Charles Gassenheimer

Does Kelly-Moore Paints plan to expand its retail store presence in DFW, and if so, what is the projected timeline for this expansion? We’re investing in a store refresh program in our 157 store footprint across Texas, Oklahoma, California and Nevada, we are also making huge investments in our independent dealer channel. In each case, we are creating Kelly-Moore 2.0 to better serve our customers delivering high quality paint with excellent service.

What types of community engagement and philanthropic initiatives does Kelly-Moore Paints plan to undertake in DFW? We have several community development programs. We recently launched a direct ground game initiative that allows each store manager to chose a local project and support that through either cash or paint donations. We also have several charities that we support. We’re always open to new ideas in this area.

How does Kelly-Moore Paints incorporate innovation into its product development and manufacturing processes? And what new products or technologies can we expect to see from the company in the future? We have one of the finest innovation groups in the industry. For a mid-sized paint company to be able to have these types of resources allows us to “punch above our weight class.” You can continue to see further expansion of our product portfolio and more focus on ecological ways to improve our carbon footprint. For example, we’ve made the decision to switch to plastic cans to deliver our products to market. This represents a significant cost savings, but also our can manufacturer uses 90% recycled plastics to make these paint cans. We view this as a double win!

Can you share more about Kelly-Moore Paints’ award-winning wastewater reduction efforts at its Hurst manufacturing facility, and how the company plans to continue prioritizing environmental sustainability in its operations going forward? See answer above. We are keenly focused on ways to continue to reduce our environmental footprint while delivering the same quality and service that our customers have come to expect from Kelly-Moore.

How has the paint industry evolved in recent years, and how does the new Irving office position Kelly-Moore Paints to capitalize on these changes and continue to innovate within the industry? Innovation is key to the paint industry. We continue to spend a significant amount of time focused on ways to deliver value and quality to our customers. Putting our corporate HQ nearer to our Hurst manufacturing operations allows for better collaboration with the Innovation and manufacturing teams, thus allowing for a more nimble and faster decision-making process.

This story was updated with additional comments from Beth Bowman and Irving Mayor Rick Stopfer on April 24, 2023, at 8:30 p.m.

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