City of Denton officials announced in a news release Feb. 2 that Matt Hamilton will serve as the city’s new chief financial officer after an extensive search.

The details: Hamilton has been serving as the city’s interim director of finance, according to the release. He joined city staff in 2020 and has more than 15 years of experience in private, nonprofit and public sectors. 

Since joining city staff, Hamilton has overseen several large initiatives, such as the strategic bond financing of major capital projects and the development and adoption of Denton’s comprehensive annual budget.

“As Denton continues to evolve, our focus must be on balancing bold economic growth with the disciplined fiscal transparency our taxpayers deserve,” Hamilton said.

What else? City officials also announced Feb. 2 that the Denton Natatorium will be closed from Feb. 9-March 22 as necessary repairs to the facility are made.

From sipping on hot cocoa to learning about Denton’s mayoral candidates, take a look at these events happening in Denton this weekend.

Vandoliers with Travis Roberts at Dan’s Silverleaf
Listen to the Vandoliers with Travis Roberts and enjoy the sounds of alternative country at Dan’s Silverleaf. This event is standing-room-only and for ages 21 and up. 

• Feb. 6, 7 p.m.
• $20 in advance, $25 at the door
• 103 Industrial St., Denton

• Feb. 6, 7-11 p.m.
• $25
• 1001 Parvin St., Denton

Cumberland Youth & Family Services, a Denton-based nonprofit focused on mental health care, has opened a satellite facility in Lewisville to offer services to a wider range of people, according to a news release.

The gist: Officials with Cumberland worked with the city of Lewisville to expand counseling services into the city, filling the need for those in the area who cannot afford or travel for standard mental health care with licensed counselors.

Currently, the Lewisville satellite office has no waitlist and offers a wide range of services, including individual, family and youth counseling. Cumberland also offers $5 sessions for qualified uninsured and underinsured clients, according to the release.

Cumberland president and CEO Courtney Banatoski said that the United Way Denton County stated that Denton County has one mental health provider for every 600 residents, when that number should be closer to one for every 250 residents. 

The backstory: Cumberland Youth & Family Services was founded in Denton in 1904.

A hotel garage at Firefly Park in Frisco is one of the latest developments filed recently with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Here are five of the most expensive permits filed with TDLR in the past week.

1. Firefly Park hotel garage: A new parking garage for Firefly Park in Frisco with four levels will be constructed starting later this year, according to a TDLR filing. Firefly Park is a mixed-use planned development that will have residences, a hotel, retail and dining space, and a park with lakes, trails, an art walk and playground, according to previous Community Impact reporting. Construction is estimated to take a little over a year.

2. Westport 12: A new 1,219,000-square-foot shell industrial facility will be constructed at AllianceTexas, according to a TDLR filing. Construction is estimated to take a little over a year.

Texas families can soon apply to receive state funds for private education or homeschooling under the state’s new education savings account program, known as Texas Education Freedom Accounts.

What's happening: The application opens at 9 a.m. Feb. 4 and is designed to be completed in about 15 minutes, according to the state comptroller’s office. Families can apply through 11:59 p.m. March 17.

Parents must submit information about their family's residency, household income, their children's educational history and each child's special education status, if applicable.

The details: To be eligible for the program, students must:

• Reside in Texas
• Be U.S. citizens or lawful residents
• Be eligible to attend a Texas public school, open-enrollment charter school or pre-K program