Fort Worth Weekly Classifieds // April 15-21, 2026

NIGHT & DAY

Earthbound Endeavors

A lot can go down between Thursday and Saturday.

With Earth and its unique harvests of ongoing interest to our readership, we’ve featured timely coverage over the years. However, we’ve never dedicated an issue entirely to this theme — until now. Welcome to the official inaugural Earth Day 420! For an overview of what’s inside, see our editor’s introduction a page or two back. As for my role — and yours as an enthusiastic event attendee — here are upcoming events for 420, Earth Day, Arbor Day, and Audubon Day.

420 Festivities

April is when we lament the fact that marijuana is illegal, still illegal, illegal again — it’s all very confusing. Urban legend has it that the first 420 (as in “4/20”) was started by some California youth smoking out at 4:20pm daily. True or not, we’re all down for a theme party.

On Fri, Apr 17, start your 420 by raising the roof at a screening of the classic 1995 stoner comedy Friday, starring Ice Cube, Chris Tucker, and Nia Long, at Rooftop Cinema Club on the roof of the Worthington Hotel (235 Throckmorton St, Fort Worth, @ RooftopCinemaClubDowntownFortWorth) at 10pm. The movie’s tagline says it all: A lot can go down between Thursday and Saturday. Shout out iconic lines like “You ain’t gotta lie, Craig” and “Bye, Felecia!” as you watch two homies, Smokey

and Craig, smoke a dope dealer’s weed and try to figure out a way to get the $200 they owe said dealer by 10pm that same night. Tickets start at $21 at RooftopCinemaClub.com/us//films/friday.

Smokin Dragon Gifts (10621 S Fwy, Fort Worth, 817-551-5578) celebrates 32 years in #TheFort with a 420 Party on Sat, Apr 18, from 2pm to 10pm. There will be free beer (21+), a storewide sale, food trucks, and a raffle with 32 gift baskets, plus live music by Silent Rumor (6pm) and Jordan Lee (2pm).

Or for a little road tripping, you could hop on the inaugural Free All Plants Tour on Sat, Apr 18, from 1pm to 7pm. It’s presented by Greenhouse Lounge & Wellness Center in DeSoto (682-2388599), but the meet-up spot is at 4466 S Marsalis Av in Dallas. This curated bus tour takes you to locations around North Texas to explore hemp and plant culture, wellness spaces, and more. Tickets are $82.85 at Eventbrite.com.

However, the biggest weed-oriented event isn’t until June. The two-day Lucky Leaf Expo at the Irving Convention Center (500 W Las Colinas Blvd, Irving, 800-247-8464) is Fri-Sat, Jun 26-27. This major cannabis conference and

expo features more than 100 exhibitors, speakers, and networking opportunities for industry professionals. Learn about the new laws, markets, and business opportunities 10am-5pm Fri and 10am-4pm Sat. Two-day passes start at $35 at LuckyLeafExpo.com.

Earth Day

April is also a time to celebrate Planet Earth. The Artemis II team’s recent journey around the moon offers a renewed perspective on our planet, inspiring this week’s cover art by Weekly Art Director Ryan Burger. As always, Fort Worth offers a variety of special events, mostly on Saturday rather than the actual holiday.

Start the day on Sat, Apr 18, with the Garden of Eve Project (4716 Richards Ter, Fort Worth, 682-900-1365). This nonprofit that teaches “the cohesiveness of gardening for the betterment of nature, community, and humanity” is celebrating Earth Day by refreshing its green spaces at Gardening Cleanup Day from 9am to 1pm. After the cleanup, new greenery will be planted, and the on-site experts will share tips on sustainable gardening practices. All skill levels, from novice to experienced gardeners or those who simply love the outdoors, are welcome to attend. This is a free event, but you will need to bring your own gloves and a reusable water bottle.

This is also when Tanger Outlets (15853 N Fwy, Fort Worth, 817-464-5400) has its big event, on Sat, Apr 18, from 11am to 2pm. At the Ladybug Lounge, help set free hundreds of lucky little ladybugs. There will also be garden crafts, balloon art, and other family-friendly activities. At 11:30am, Meet the Beekeeper Bee Workshop will discuss the world’s most important pollinators and observe a working beehive IRL. Sample varieties of honey made by the bees who reside at the various Tanger centers. Denton County Master Gardeners are doing special presentations and giving out plant-pollinator flowers to take home and place in your own garden. As the mall partners with Sneaker Impact (GotSneakers.com), a shoe-recycling organization, you can unlock special offers by donating two pairs of used sneakers.

If you’d like to keep other types of clothing out of landfills and earn some cash, take your continued on page 12

N&D

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items to Uptown Cheapskate (seven locations nearby). They’re always seeking current trends and unique finds — learn more at UptownCheapSkate. com. If your items aren’t accepted, donate them to

thrift stores or nonprofits. Don’t toss them. Shop Uptown, too, for high-end, guilt-free fashion! Then, Three Wide Brewing (16230 Three Wide Dr, Fort Worth, 817-984-3534) is hosting an Earth Day Celebration, also on Sat, Apr 18, from 2pm to 5pm, featuring live music by Maddie White’s duo, Nick & Maddie. Earth Day-themed

continued on page 13

vendors will be on-site for some sustainable shopping, and there will be face painting for the young or young at heart.

While space and time are limited, there are tons of other events happening around North Texas that I’d like to tell you about. For example, the huge annual Earth X Conference is happening soon in Dallas (EarthX.org/earthx2026). Here are some other events in April and May in cities where many of you readers live, along with where to get the info online.

Burleson at Bailey Lake Park Facebook.com/BurlesonParksandRecreation

Grand Prairie at EpicCentral Facebook.com/CityofGPTX

Grapevine at Heritage Park KeepGrapevineBeautiful.org

Irving at Valley Ranch Facebook.com/ValleyRanchAssoc

Lake Worth at Atwoods Facebook.com/AtwoodsLakeWorthTX

Oak Cliff at Lake Cliff Park OakCliffEarthDay.com/

Arbor Day

The last Friday in April is National Arbor Day. Founded in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton, a newspaperman who served as President Grover Cleveland’s secretary of agriculture, the holiday is dedicated to planting, caring for, and celebrating trees to ensure a better future. In honor of the occasion, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden (3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, 817-463-4160) is offering free admission on what they call Neighbors in Nature Day on Fri, Apr 24, from 8am to 5pm. It’s a full day of earthy programming, and you can get all the details at FWBG.org.

Remember good ol’ Dubya? Current events kind of make us miss that particular president. Sigh. As an extension of the George W. Bush Presidential Library in Dallas, his wife has a garden named after her. The Laura Bush Native Garden (2943 SMU Blvd, 214-200-4300) is offering free guided tours by North Texas master naturalists every Saturday at 10am thru Sat, May 30, weather permitting.

If you happen to be headed to Scarborough Renaissance Festival on Sun, Apr 26, make some time to include a Wildflower Adventure From 2pm to 4pm, stop by Ellis County Rural Heritage Farm (130 Cunningham Meadows Rd, Waxahachie, 972-937-0681) and enjoy free wildflower activities, including demonstrations, interactive exhibits, and nature walks to see the birds, fauna, flora, and wildlife of the Texas Blackland Prairie.

Audubon Day

The last weekend of the month is for the birds. Named for ornithologist and naturalist John James Audubon, National Audubon Day promotes the appreciation, study, and conservation of birds and their natural habitats, often marked by birdwatching, educational events, and nature photography.

The Fort Worth Audubon Society (Facebook.com/fwas.org) is so busy with

birdwatching and such throughout April that they are knocking out their big spring event this Sat, Apr 18. (That’s my theory anyway.) Before the AI robots ruin everything (see this week’s Metro story), join these folks at Dinosaur Valley State Park (1629 Park Rd 59, Glen Rose, 254-897-4588) from 10am to 2pm for the Spring Wingding. This free celebration brings together nature enthusiasts to share their expertise on bats, bees, butterflies, birds, and dinosaurs (bird ancestors).

You can also join your city’s iNaturalist project, snap photos outdoors, and participate in citywide and team challenges from Fri, Apr 24, to Mon, Apr 27, using the iNaturalist app to observe biodiversity. More at iNaturalist.org.

By Elaine Wilder

March 8–September 27

Rashid Johnson A Poem for Deep Thinkers

Data Centers

Invade the Fort

A strong grassroots effort is underway to keep the environmentally dangerous campuses out.

BY AMBER CHADWICK

Artificial intelligence is everywhere you look and has quickly become an unavoidable part of modern life. It powers search engines, drafts emails for us, and aids in everyday problem-solving. However, AI isn’t limited to the cloud. Behind digital convenience lies physical infrastructure, and now there are more than 400 data centers around the country.

Texas has emerged as a national leader in this development, and North Texas is becoming an epicenter of this technological expansion, attracting large-scale projects that affect the economy and the environment. With plans underway in Fort Worth and a controversial proposed development near Dinosaur Valley State Park, many residents are pushing back for fear that this digital boom will disrupt their quiet neighborhoods, threaten local ecosystems, and reshape the land forever.

The environmental impact of these facilities is undeniable and increasingly becoming impossible to ignore. One of the most prominent concerns is water consumption. These facilities run 24/7 and require a significant amount of water to keep servers from overheating, with larger facilities consuming up to 5 million gallons daily.

Sites are often built in regions where surrounding communities already face water shortages, with some residents reporting declines

METROPOLIS

Sierra Club and Protect the Paluxy Valley, are raising concerns about the environmental impact this project could have on the fragile ecosystem and the surrounding rural community.

Similar opposition can also be seen in Tarrant County, where residents are actively expressing concerns about how the proposed Black Mountain Data Center could impact their neighborhoods, including not only Fort Worth but also Arlington, Everman, and Forest Hills. Southeast Fort Worth, an area where the land is already heavily concentrated with landfills, warehouses, factories, and truckyards, is not equipped to accommodate development of that magnitude.

As North Texas continues to develop as an AI hub, the challenge now lies in balancing environmental sustainability and technological advancement, and it’s important to recognize that we have the power to drive change. We must act now to preserve our communities for generations to come.

in water pressure and quality at home. North Texas is drought-prone, and residents are already subject to water restrictions, placing tremendous strain on our natural resources and our pocketbooks.

Beyond water consumption, data centers also have increased electricity demands. In fact, it’s projected that by 2030, facilities in Texas could consume more electricity than 10 million homes. Because these sites operate continuously, they require significant power to keep the servers running and cooled. As more facilities are being built in our region, this puts significant pressure on our already shaky power grid.

Texas operates on an independent power grid that has experienced past failures. Texans are not strangers to major grid failures during extreme weather events, and the trauma of the Texas power crisis of 2021 still looms over many. This raises concerns about whether our power grid can continue to sustain this ongoing pressure. Because of this, we will indirectly pay the price through higher energy bills and grid instability.

Data centers also contribute to air, noise, and light pollution. A Cornell study found that by 2030, the current rate of AI growth would annually put 24 to 44 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Backup diesel generators at these

facilities emit nitrogen oxides and particulate matter into the air, significantly contributing to declining air quality, posing serious health risks, including respiratory problems and other chronic conditions.

Beyond air quality, the constant humming produced by equipment creates noticeable noise pollution, while the harsh 24/7 bright lighting causes light pollution that disrupts both nearby communities and surrounding wildlife. Residents also experience disrupted sleep and increased stress due to the harsh settings.

The impact on lower-income communities, where many of these facilities are proposed, raises concerns about environmental justice. Because this land is cheaper and political resistance is grossly limited, residents in these areas face decreasing property values and disproportionate environmental burdens, further deepening existing inequalities.

Sierra Club of Greater Fort Worth (SierraClub.org/texas/greater-fort-worth), the local chapter of a grassroots environmental organization that helps protect wild spaces, notes that these developments can easily span up to 450 acres. This is a concern near the beloved Dinosaur Valley State Park, which lies within the Paluxy River watershed, an ecologically sensitive area. Residents and environmental advocacy groups, such as the

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to become involved. Attending city council meetings, advocating for zoning regulations, and engaging with local representatives are effective ways for community members to be active and make their voices heard. Concerned citizens have attended Fort Worth City Council meetings month after month while this issue has been on the table, helping affect decisions from January through March. Due to strong community backlash on Mar 31, councilmembers decided to postpone the decision on a 10-year tax break to Black Mountain to at least May 12, 2026. To add your name to a petition about the Black Mountain Data Center, go to ActionNetwork.org. As a Fort Worth resident told Fort Worth Report, while the site rezoning to industrial use will allow this project to move forward, those concerned should still make their voices heard.

Those interested in learning more about this issue are also welcome to attend the next general meeting of the Sierra Club at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden (3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-463-4160) on Wed, Apr 15, from 7pm to 8pm, where environmental activist/lobbyist Rita Beving will speak on the impact of massive data centers on Texas. For info on future events, follow Facebook.com/GreaterFortWorthSierraClub. l

ART

CLASSIFIEDS

Earth Day is Special, Tax Day is Not

There’s nothing different about April 15, because (spoiler alert) every day is a tax day.

BY THOMAS L. KNAPP

The deadline for filing US federal income tax returns falls (usually) on April 15, a date that’s worked its way into the American vocabulary as “tax day.” That’s really not a very accurate term.

For one thing, most Americans pay all sorts of other taxes (sales taxes, excise taxes, property taxes, etc.) all the time. You can’t swing a cat without hitting a tax ... and there’s probably a tax on swinging cats, which I recommend against doing for all kinds of reasons other than potential tax implications.

For another, most Americans pay federal income tax year-round through withholding from their paychecks (or quarterly “estimated” payments). April 15 is just the day when the government demands that you do their paperwork for them to make sure they took as much as they wanted to take from you last year.

And even when you’re not paying up

front, you’re still getting taxed.

Last year, the federal government took $5.2 trillion directly from U.S. taxpayers, but spent $7 trillion. Congress borrowed that extra $1.8 trillion, promising their creditors that, sooner or later, they’ll get the money, plus interest, out of you or your descendants. It’s still tax, just with payment temporarily deferred.

Not all taxes fall on all Americans evenly, of course. Because federal income taxes are “progressive,” the top 20% of American earners pay 66.1% of federal taxes, while the bottom 20% of earners pay 0.8%.

State and local sales taxes are, for the most part, income-neutral, but the poor end of the spectrum gets hit harder in practice because they spend a larger share of what they earn to get by, while the wealthier save or invest a larger share of their incomes.

Social Security taxes? They’re “regressive” because of lifespan -- working-class black males, who die younger, subsidize the retirements of middle-class white women, who live longer.

Speaking of dying younger and living longer, that’s what taxation is really all about: Draining your length and quality of life to keep government going and make it ever more powerful. It’s no more complicated than that, no matter how much garbage propaganda you’re fed to justify it.

Taxation isn’t about “helping the poor,” “defending the country,” or any other supposedly good cause. It’s about taking money out of your pocket (which to some extent means taking food out of your mouth) and putting it into politicians’ hands. That’s all it’s ever been about.

So happy tax day, I guess.

Thomas L. Knapp, is the director and senior news analyst at the William Lloyd Garrison Center for Libertarian Advocacy Journalism (TheGarrisonCenter.org). This column reflects the opinions and fact-gathering of the author and

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North Tarrant Infrastructure, LLC seeks Superintendent (multiple positions available) to work in Fort Worth, Texas. The Superintendent’s responsibilities include coordinating and supervising construction activities within the project. This includes adhering to the project schedule, priorities, design, quality standards, and requirements. Additionally, they will issue directives to Foremen to manage crews, as well as plan and schedule all requirements for labor, equipment, and materials costs strategically. This role involves ensuring the timely completion of assignment operations while staying within the budget. TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: 15% domestic Regional for Central Texas Area for internal meetings, meeting with client, trainings. Apply online: https://ferrovial.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/ Ferrovial_Career_Site/job/Fort-Worth/Superintendent-3-positions-available-_JR16473

EMPLOYMENT

UString Solutions, LLC seeks Software Developer to design and develop integrated solutions and API’s. For job duties and requirements visit https:// ustringsolutions.com/careers-detail.php?jid=42. Relocation required. Send resume to UString Solutions or email: HR@ustringsolutions.com

EMPLOYMENT

Wabtec US Rail, Inc. DBA Wabtec Corporation seeks IT Sourcing Specialist in Fort Worth, TX to maintain the sourcing website with updated posts and modifications to increase users as well as integrate future applications. Telecommuting permitted. Domestic travel required 10% of the time. Apply at www.jobpostingtoday.com, Ref#56045.

EMPLOYMENT

Wabtec US Rail, Inc. dba Wabtec Corporation seeks Lead Supplier Quality Engineer in Fort Worth, TX to perform supplier audits, ensure compliance, and drive improvement plans. Telecommuting permitted. Domestic travel throughout the U.S. required 20% of the time. Apply at www.jobpostingtoday.com Ref #61872.

EMPLOYMENT

Weaver Consultants Group seeks Sustainability Project Manager in Fort Worth, TX: Req’s: MS or equiv. & 2 yrs exp or BS or equiv. & 5 yrs. Coordinate w/ senior leadership & marketing to develop sustainability service offerings; develop carbon footprints, sustainability plans & carbon reduction plans. Occasional travel to client sites & national conferences. Must be legally authorized to work in US w/out sponsorship. Send resume to: hr@ wcgrp.com

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PUBLIC NOTICE

The following vehicle has been impounded with fees due to date by Sega Tow (VSF0576658) at 2711 S Riverside Dr, Fort Worth TX, 76104, 817-572-7775: 2015 KIA Sportage, VIN KNDPC3AC5F7723407 $374.20.