There has been a changing of the guard in Tarrant County.
In Precinct 5, Sergio De Leon was sworn in as the new justice of the peace last week, replacing longtime JP Manuel Valdez, who resigned this year when he began a bid for the 33rd Congressional District.In the first few days on the job, De Leon already had handled cases ranging from towing to small claims -- and he performed his first wedding."It's an awesome responsibility and one I take very seriously," De Leon said. "I will do everything I can to learn the job and render justice at the local level."State law required De Leon -- who was a constable for more than a decade -- to be sworn in as justice of the peace after the Nov. 6 election results were officially canvassed.Special meetings to canvass the votes, and swear De Leon into office, were held Monday. At the same time, Ruben Garcia was sworn in as the new Precinct 5 constable.Valdez, justice of the peace in Precinct 5 since 1982, threw his hat into the ring for the 33rd Congressional District, along with 10 other Democrats. State Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, ultimately won the congressional seat.Not as old as it looksWashington's stately Longworth House Office Building, with its distinctive columns, is a fine example of neoclassical revival style.However, it is not, as PoliTex said last week, older than the Cannon House Office Building, which was built in 1908. Longworth, built in 1933, will soon be home to U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth.Saving moneyNow that the 2012 election is safely behind us, there are bigger things to focus on, according to CafePress, an online company that monitors trending topics based on online customer sales.So CafePress sent a tongue-in-cheek letter to the U.S. House recommending ways to save money -- specifically on formal photos."We in no way intend to imply that portraits of outgoing Cabinet and top administrative appointees are unimportant; to the contrary, we are fans of art in all formats," the letter says. "We do however suggest that we can provide a model for saving money on this program."Instead of the government spending around $40,000 on a portrait, CafePress could whip up a canvass for about $350, which includes shipping costs, according to the letter.And instead of paintings taking a year or more to be finished, CafePress said it can finish art in less than a week.Best of all, the CafePress art "is made in America, so each portrait purchase from the government helps the economy and helps keep jobs in America," according to the letter.Sustainable energyFort Worth Mayor Betsy Price will discuss environmental goals for businesses and government during the Sustainable Energy Fort Worth Roundtable on Wednesday at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.More than 40 community and business leaders will sign a "Better Buildings" commitment agreeing to specific goals for energy savings and water conservation.Price will visit an energy monitoring and control room that has allowed Lockheed Martin to achieve savings in electric and water usage in its mile-long factory and office buildings.Sustainable Energy Fort Worth expects to make recommendations on a sustainable energy future.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
