A:car batteries? I'd go to the Dallas County Home Chemical Collection Center (11234 Plano Rd). See our page on recycling for more information.

If you're talking about small consumer batteries (AA/AAA/etc) they'll surely take those as well, but the Batteries+ locations around Dallas (such as Beltline/Inwood in Addison or 75-Central/Park) are much closer.

Although you didn't ask, you should also consider switching to rechargable batteries, which last hundreds of recharge cycles (and can then be recycled themselves at the end). Consider investing in a good quality charger if you go this route, as there are lots of poor quality rechargeable batteries out there (personally, I've had excellent success with the newer hybrid batteries such as Eneloop).

A:It's easy .. just print the Out Of Town Request form and then call NHHA Security; an officer will come to your home to pick it up and discuss any questions or concerns.

A:Here are the Dallas City specifications:

Dallas Code § 42-21 A person, desiring that no merchant or other person engage in a home solicitation at his residence, shall exhibit in a conspicuous place upon or near the main entrance to the residence, a weatherproof card, not less than three inches by four inches in size, containing the words, "NO SOLICITORS." The letters shall be not less than two-thirds of an inch in height.

A: the only caution we've ever made about oak trees is not to prune them between Valentine's Day (2/15) and Memorial Day (5/30). So .. prune away! This is on our website in the "Trees" page (Oak Wilt Advisory section).

A: There is only one number (unpublished) and if NHHA Security is on duty, a security officer will answer. Otherwise it goes to (cellphone) voicemail - not an answering machine. You should advise your security monitoring service to also call 911. We do not publish the hours the security service is on duty (even criminals can read our website) but will provide that information to the monitoring company upon request.

Webmaster note: Please spend some time thinking about the PRIORITY of numbers to call when your alarm is tripped. Some people may wish to have the security monitoring company call your cellphone before NHHA Security, to prevent obvious false alarms ("oops, I just left the house and must've not closed my door completely!"). You may also wish to list a trusted neighbor, in addition to your home (wired) telephone.

A: Yes, call 311 and report the location. Then, dispose of the carcass (the city used to collect them - they no longer do that), but they do track the location and will set out traps to determine if the WNV-carrying mosquitos are in our neighborhood.

We are having trouble keeping our electric service on during any kind of rain this year. It doesn't have to a real storm -- just a steady rain will do it! Sometimes it goes off 2 or 3 times in one day if the rain persists. The real troubling part of this is losing our DSL service and having to spend 30 min. with AT&T to get it back! It appears we have very old tranformers in our area.

I have called TXU many times to no avail. The last time I requested a supervisor to call me to explain why it is happening with every rain and why is it going off only 3 to 5 min. a number of times. One time recently it was the transformer in the alley across the street from us and we were hopeful that that would be the solution, but it was not. Any loss of power at all knocks out my sprinkler system and DSL, and it is happening all the time when it rains! I'm going to e-mail TXU today, but I would appreciate any help you can give us with TXU of through Linda Koop.

A: We experienced the same thing a couple of years ago on my street. Since they upgraded the transformer when squirrels continually triggered the circuit breaker on the old model, we've had no problems. Stay after TXU to get yours replaced. A signed petition by your neighbors who are experiencing this same problem will help get action.

Webmaster note: My power has failed about 12 times this year, so says the software application that controls my UPS [Uninterruptable Power Supply]. I have a UPS on my computer and my TiVo (a special-purpose Linux computer); you can buy a UPS at most computer stores.

A: The crews should not be trimming oak trees between Valentine's Day and Memorial Day, which is the time the "oak wilt beetle" is active. If TXU (actually, one of their contractors) persists in trimming oak trees during this time, they should at minimum "paint the wound" and follow proper sterilization techniques which involve cleaning the equipment after each cut. (This is all per a conversation with Brad Mayfield / TXU Arborist [817-215-5515])

Webmaster note: we have a lot of information regarding Oak Wilt on our Trees page. Note that we also spoke to Mark Ponder / TXU Customer Service 972-985-2024 about this problem.

A: I already knew about that!

A: These control the irrigation system. You know, on-off, zones and email communication to center if anything is wrong.

A: I accessed the City of Dallas web site, then entered the specific address to find the Zoning Information for this property. I then clicked "View zoning descriptions" and found the information about front and side /rear setbacks.

In researching this, I found using deed restrictions to be a homeowner's nightmare and lawyer's dream; nobody agrees whether they are enforceable or not. Each case needs to have a professional ($$$) opinion. I don't believe I'd add a garage, disregarding the Dallas Development Code Zoned Residential, if it is different than the deed restrictions or the plat calls for. One neighborhood attorney says "the setback for a lot is not determined by the deed or zoning restrictions; it is determined by the plat which is usually -- if not always -- greater than the zoning setback." Another neighborhood attorney chimed in with: "any of those three means of restricting property could establish a front setback and would be valid. The most restrictive one would be the one to follow -- although a private restriction that's been frequently broken and never enforced can be waived."

Do not use my answer to make a final decision! To be absolutely sure you can do what you'd like, I'd suggest you contact the Dallas County Clerk and be sure the property lines are established by a survey.

Also see the City's FAQ: "What are the setbacks at my location?"

A: I suspect the solicitor confused the rules about telephone solicitation (9a-9p) with door-to-door (9a-sunset+30 minutes).

When this occurs after hours at my house and I don't know the person, I call 9-1-1 saying that I am concerned about a "suspicious person" knocking on my door. Many of us are reluctant to do get the police involved, but I prefer not to take any chances.

Here is the Dallas City Code that applies:

SEC. 42-18. SOLICITATIONS PERMITTED ONLY DURING CERTAIN HOURS

1. A person shall not go upon any residential premises and ring the doorbell, or rap or knock upon the door or create any sound in a manner calculated to attract the attention of the occupant of the residence for the purpose of engaging in or attempting to engage in a home solicitation transaction:
   1. before 9am or after 30 minutes following sunset of any day, Monday through Saturday; or
   2. at any time on a Sunday, New Year's Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, or Christmas Day.
2. Subsection (a) shall not apply to a visit to the premises as a result of a request or an appointment made by the occupant.
3. A person shall not contact by telephone the occupant of a residence for the purpose of engaging in or attempting to engage in a home solicitation transaction before 9am or after 9pm of any day, Monday through Saturday, or at any time on a Sunday, New Year's Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, or Christmas Day.
4. In this section "sunset" means the time of day published on the weather page of the official newspaper of the city as the time for sunset on that day in the city. (Ord. Nos. 14300; 18875)

A large hawk likes to sit atop our street ights seeking its prey. So far, I have no reports of attacks on our pets but that doesn't mean a cat or small dog won't fall victim. Is it okay to shoot the bird?

A: NO! -- for at least two reasons. First, discharging a firearm inside the city limits is illegal (with rare exceptions).

Second, this species is protected by the Migratory Bird laws - same goes for the ducks which will nest in/near our swimming pools in the spring. We live in an urban area .. but that doesn't mean we're that far from nature. We have wild animals (bobcats, coyotes, pumas, etc.) who live near our creeks and they occasionally stray into our lives in search of food. Since Dallas prohibits domestic animals "off leash" (excepting inside a contained fence) there's not much we can do - unless the wild animal attacks a human, in which case Dallas Animal Control will step in.

Please don't hurt the hawk! We've enjoyed watching him swoop along the creek for over 20 years. Never once has he bothered our 4 (now grown!) boys or numerous small pets! He even flew into our house one day (unintentionally!) through an open door & out again! He's a treasure! Save the hawk!

About that hawk -- I've seen him flying around and the other day a mockingbird was chasing him. Another day he landed in a tree in our front yard as I was looking out a window. He's pretty to watch -- maybe he'll keep the rodents away.

Another reason not to shoot the hawk is that it helps keep the squirrel and rabbit population in check.

The hawk ... is over my house all the time, and I saw one snacking in the Belt Line median the other evening ... thought it was a dog!

Whatever that 'giant hawk' is, I saw him get a squirrel in my yard and take it off into the sky! I thought at the time it looked like an owl, not a hawk. Pretty large wingspan, coloring of a Swainson's hawk but too big. Looked like a Great Gray owl to me, but I think they hunt at dusk. This was late afternoon but definitely not at dusk.

I've seen this giant hawk, too. About a week to 10 days ago, we were driving east on Belt Line north of Dentcrest when we saw this giant hawk in the median stripping away at a carcass of some sort. Unbelievable. Two men stopped and were taking photographs. The hawk paid no attention and kept right on doing his thing. If this were spring and I had a baby, I wouldn't for a moment leave it in a cradle or stroller in my backyard without my presence. Same goes for a puppy.

A: You can do both now; the City stills accepts recyclables in blue bags, as well as the Big Blue roll cart. Just set your excess in blue bags next to the roll cart.

Sherlyn McAnally (Dallas City Hall) advises: "There is no need to separate your aluminum, plastics and glass from other paper items. All can be put in the same bag or all can be put commingled in the blue cart. All recyclable items should be as clean and dry as possible.

The color of bag does matter for recyclable. It has to be transparent enough so that our crews can determine that it is recycling and not trash. It only takes a few bags of trash in a load of recyclables to contaminate the entire load. Blue or transparent bags are the best choice.

The shipment of blue bags is in and we will be distributing them to all recreation centers and libraries this week. We will continue to stock them on a weekly basis so bags will be available to residents at no charge. Until we've caught up with the demand, the resident might want to make a call before making a trip. We have approximately 70 locations to stock."

A: Thanks for asking about "garage sales." Many homeowners don't know the guidelines and some have been issued a citation [$200 - $2000!]

The City of Dallas says you can have two a year, but restricts them to garage and or driveway area (no front yard). The only sign (one) allowed must be ON the property having the sale. You are not allowed to sell merchandise from a business - only personal household items.

Northwood Hills homeowner activities are governed by the City of Dallas Codes for zones designated as "residential." These are accessible through the City's web site Section 51A 4.217 of the Dallas City Code addresses "Occasional Sales (Garage)". You can also find a City Garage Sales brochure in the Resource Section of our NHHA web site.

A: "Northwood Chatter" is not restricted to the NHHA Members. Anyone living in Northwood Hills may join.

The big "group" web sites (Yahoo, Google, Microsoft) typically are controlled access; you must be a group member in order to post. There are rare instances where someone subscribes in order to promote their own business, but we have a zero-tolerance policy there. One post of that nature and they're removed from the group and the posting from the archive is deleted.

Most "group web sites" allow for a periodic Group Policy to be automatically emailed on a regular basis (monthly?) to discourage anti-social behavior .. name calling and such.

Our Northwood Chatter group on Yahoo has been used mostly to ask about contractors. A nice feature is the archive so that new joiners can read the old postings, rather than ask the same questions over and over. Traffic is bursty; few of us start conversations and they often trail off after a few days.

A: I love the idea too. This summer, we went back to the Chicago suburb where we raised our family, and on Saturday morning the sidewalks were filled with younger couples strolling, chatting and having coffee at Starbucks. Actually we don't have to go far (Addison Circle) to experience the "city in the `burbs" concept.

A: I know you will find Northwood Hills a wonderful community of families who enjoy the same benefits you spied in your visits. If you have a chance to explore our web site (www.northwoodhils.org), many of your ongoing questions will be answered.

NHHA supports Dallas building codes; if you meet the Dallas code and you aren't looking for any deviations, NHHA won't oppose your upgrade. We have dealt with several teardowns where the builder asked for code deviations, where the neighbors objected and sought support from NHHA. These are usually handled before reaching ZOAC [Zoning Ordinance Advisory Committee] and the CPC [City Planning Commission].

Additionally, there may be Deed Restrictions associated with your property; sometimes they are old and unenforceable, while others have "evergreen" provisions and are valid. Check at the Dallas County Records Building (500 Elm Street, next to Old Red, on the 2nd floor) for any of these that you might be violating. Be sure to bring the Legal Description of the property (easily available via the DCAD web site) and the clerks can probably point you straight to the right drawer.

A: Actions you have described are definitely City of Dallas code violations and the person can be fined up to a $2000 for each occurrence. Call 311 (or go online) to report this violation.

Dallas, Texas Code of Ordinances SEC. 19-118.2. ("STORM WATER DRAINAGE SYSTEM") PROHIBITED DISCHARGES. (a) A person commits an offense if he discharges or causes to be discharged any water that does not consist entirely of storm water into the storm water drainage system, waters of the United States, or state water.

Reading further in the code, you'll find specific items mentioned including lawn waste. Also, see "Grass clippings. What can you do with them?" on the City of Dallas web site

A: The city's contractor is not finished; they are waiting on TXU to finish moving their utilities off the utility poles that are in the middle of the new sidewalk on the SW corner of the intersection. Then the old poles can be removed and the sidewalk and retaining wall completed. As far as replacing the fence around the property, that will be the homeowner's responsibility with a compensation they received from the county to replace the fence that had to be removed. This project has gone on longer than was expected, in part due to turnover at TXU that has extended the timeframe for their part of the project. We are lucky to have a very committed project manager assigned to this project who is moving the progress along as quickly as possible.

The Project Manager, Tim Starr, has additional information:

"I've been informed that TXU has transferred their lines, and we are now waiting on COMCAST to relocate to the new poles (not positive, but I believe AT&T may also be on the old poles and will have to transfer their lines after COMCAST is finished). Once all the utilities have been transferred, TXU will pull their old poles and the contractor can finish the remaining sidewalk and retaining wall work on the SW corner. On another note, I contacted our Streets Dept. regarding the pot hole in the middle of the intersection. They informed me that they would have a repair/patch truck out to patch this pothole tomorrow." (8 July 2006)

A: Back in the 1960s, Northwood Hills was the end of North Dallas; sidewalks and street lights didn't fit the desired suburban profile. Our houses were mostly built one-at-a-time by individual builders. Thus, if the sidewalks or street lights were not planned and funded, each builder would not have incurred the cost of a street-long sidewalk or street lights. You may also wish to read "A Personal History of Northwood Hills : 1959-1999".

See Q58 for a way to get more street lights. As to the sidewalks, I'd suggest you phone 3-1-1 (Dallas City Services).

A: I don't think so, even though P&G's Crest and NWH were under early design about the same time -1956. Consider all the other street names and I think you'd conclude the developers of NWH were raised in mountainous or hilly states. In addition to crest there are bluffs, ridges, view, meadow, mosses, glens, brooks, and valley.

A: We have great grocery shopping around Northwood Hills. Here are the nearby large chain stores (alphabetically):

• Albertsons - NW corner Hillcrest & Arapaho;
• Fiesta Mart - SE corner Coit & Spring Valley;
• Kroger - NE corner Coit & Beltline;
• Neighborhood Market (Wal-Mart) - about 5 blocks N of Beltline near the Richardson Post Office;
• Tom Thumb (Safeway owned) - SW corner Preston & Beltline;
• Whole Foods - SE corner Coit & Beltline;

A: I went online to the Dallas Central Appraisal District's web site to determine the owner (forwarded privately). Your best bet may be to contact the real estate agent who has the property listed.

A: Normally, I'd refer all questions for the city to 3-1-1. They have the answers for the City of Dallas. However, in this case, lights are sometime the responsibility of TXU, so I called the CIty and found you should call Brandt Moss at 214-611-1229. He should be the point of relief.

A: Thank you for the question. It's an interesting one because most homeowners find it difficult to ask neighbors to cleanup their yard, paint their fence or cut down a dead tree. But, a knock on the door might get more action than reporting it to 3-1-1 City of Dallas Code Enforcement. However, 3-1-1 might be the best alternative if you are uncomfortable with a direct approach.

A few years ago I printed some cards for my wife, who walks in the neighborhood, to leave with neighbors who had put their tree trimmings and other bulk trash on the curbs weeks before the scheduled pick-up. Basically it said.

"Hi Neighbor, a few of us noticed your bulky trash is on the curb very early. It's not due to be picked up until the second Monday of the month. We wanted you to know that you are risking a $250 code violation. We usually put ours alongside our house until the pickup day, when we move it to the curb. Thanks. Your Neighbors."

These were very effective.

A dead tree could be considerably different. It may have been planted as a memorial to a family member; supported a rope swing or a tree house for their kids, or provided shade for patio parties for 25 years. Trees have sentimental value and that's why I'd express my concern personally. Starting by introducing yourself and then mentioning that I understand that trees can be like old friends, but the one along your back fence looks like it's dying and may present some danger to the neighborhood kids.

I'd like to think of these situations as opportunities. I'll be interested in what you do and how it turn out.

A: We are very fortunate to have Linda Koop as our City Councilmember. My experience is she is very responsive. However, it seems you're in a bit of a pickle that might not result in a favorable response. It's after the barn door is closed, but had you contacted your Northwood Hills Homeowners Association, we might have saved you all this anguish.

The Dallas Code is online but it's a monster document. There's nothing obvious about fences. The CC&R's (a/k/a "Deed Restrictions") of Northwood Hills (available from the Dallas County Clerk's office) usually state:

"That any fence constructed on any tract must be of ornamental iron or woven wire with iron posts, or a rustic timber fence, stone or brick fence, or a wooden picket fence duly painted and shall only enclose that area of any tract lying between the rear line of said tract and the front line of any dwelling or residence and must not be more than seven (7) feet in height at any point."

That said, this homeowner may have different Deed Restrictions, and it's debatable if they can be enforced, but that's another story.

A: See section 7.5 of the Dallas City Code concerning "DANGEROUS DOGS":

"a dog that makes an unprovoked attack on a person that causes bodily injury and occurs in a place other than an enclosure in which the dog was being kept ..."

Dog-on-dog attacks are covered by a Texas State statute (§ 822.013)

This house appears to be owned by one of those "investment clubs". I have been concerned for sometime about investors flipping houses here. This tenant (with several pit bulls) claims to be buying the house, but has been virtually invisible since the dog incidents. The house appears vacant (no lights), except an occasional car in the driveway late at night.

Update from the City: "On February 1, 2006 the owner surrendered the male pit bull to Dallas Animal Services because it was sick. A staff veterinarian examined the animal and confirmed that it was too sick. Therefore, the animal was euthanized."

3 Feb 2006 update: At the Dangerous Animal Hearing on 1 Feb 2006, several neighbors presented written statements attesting to the attack. One of the 2 neighbors, walking their dogs, says the 2 pit bulls (a white male, and black female) came at them from behind. She advises the fence from which the pit bulls exited their property has since been "repaired" by the homeowner, who placed sheet metal over the hole; time will tell if that's adequate. The female (black) pit bull - described by one dog-walker as "equally aggressive as the male" - has not been euthanized.

A: The City (Kent Robertson) says: "squirrels do not carry rabies, therefore we do not investigate." More than likely a neighbor has shot them. Dallas Code Sec 31-4 regulates "discharging a firearm in a private place". Pellet guns are considered firearms(Dallas Code Sec 31-16) and are regulated the same way.

I wonder if they were poisoned? They could've found some rat bait.

A: turn on a local radio or television channel. They will interrupt programming to issue Tornado Warnings and advise you where the tornado is located.

The U.S. Office of Emergency Management has more information: Warning Sirens

I am interested in your advice on relocating a family of ducks in our pool. An adult mallard nested near our pool and 6 ducklings hatched two days ago. We tried to relocate them to a park today, but had difficulty catching the mallard. The ducklings are no problem. But I refuse to locate just the ducklings without their mother.

Needless to say, is there a conservation service or county extension office that could offer us some assistance in this matter? We want our pool back!

Webmaster's note: the homeowner called 3-1-1 for Animal Control, and was told that ducks are federally protected fowl and cannot be moved!. Our homeowner reported that she simply opened the backyard gate, and let nature take its course. The ducks are now gone (but momma will probably return to deliver the next "litter").

another neighbor says: "Ducks in the Pool? I just bought a few small beach balls, tossed them in the pool, and the ducks never landed there again. Doesn't hurt the ducks, they just don't like those balls moving around the pool. I've told several people about this and they all say it works. Worth trying. We always keep a few big balls in the pool. No ducks."

Webmaster's note: as of 21 July 2005, this is now an empty lot. Expect a McMansion here Real Soon Now.

Zoning Application S034-330 (District 11)
Application to create one 3.5772 acre lot in City Block 7428 on 
Hillcrest Road at Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway, northwest corner
Applicant: Karrington Operating Company, McLean Virginia
Application Filed: August 18, 2004
Zoning: PDD 485 (Assisted living & single family dwellings), FP

Webmaster's note: the walking trail that runs along Meandering Way is called the Preston Ridge Trail and there are lots of details on their web site.

A: Code Compliance advises that those PODS (Portable On Demand Storage) are legal in the backyard, but not in front. I suspect this can be reported on the Dallas 311 System under the category "Illegal Outside Storage". Also, the home-based business could be a problem due to Zoning considerations (illegal use restrictions).

A: Susan Enarson (of TXU Electric Delivery) advises: "These were radios that a company called Metricom attached to poles; they went out of business a couple years ago. TXU Electric Delivery now owns the equipment, and another telecom company is currently negotiating the purchase of them."

"Metricom installed around 4800 radios on our poles with the bulk being in Dallas/Fort Worth. I don't have an exact number for Dallas, but would guess 1500-2000."

"There is another one on Spring Valley Road, between Cliffbrook and Hughes Lane."

A: You should not mount a light on the telephone pole. You may mount it on a building on your property, such as a garage or house. You do have to be concerned what effect it might have on neighbors. Under certain conditions a "night light" may be perfect security for your yard, but disturb a neighbor several doors away. Thus it's best to check with them before mounting one. My suggestion is to consider "moonlighting" a tree in your yard or see if your immediate neighbors have an interest in some special light in your alley or out front.

I spoke to the Dallas City Public Works Department, who handles "street lights acquisition & installation." To get a street light installed by the City, you must submit a petition signed by the 4 homeowners who straddle the light (2 on each side of the street). Also, 8 neighbors surrounding the location where the light will be placed (4 on each side of the street) will be notified of the request; 6 of the 8 (include the original 4 who signed the petition) must agree. Public Works will review the petition and if they approve, they will have TXU Electric Delivery install the light - NO CHARGE. It takes about 10 to 12 weeks.

Webmaster's Note: the City will bill the person who requests the light; I've been told (June 2005) that amounts to about $12/month.

A: I can't find an answer to your question, but here's a trail for you to follow: to request a tour of a fire station or to schedule a fire engine to visit your site, call 214-670-5466 Monday through Friday 8am-5pm. Or, make a personal trip to Dallas Fire Station #56, at 7040 Belt Line Road (Fretz Park)

Webmaster's note: I asked a local fireman about this, and got this response:

If you're asking if we have birthday parties at the fire station, I'm almost positive the answer is NO. Since I've been a fireman, we've never had a birthday party at any of the fire stations that I have worked at. I know a lot of the suburbs like Frisco do that on Saturdays or Sundays, but they do not have near the call volume that we do. The problem is that when we leave the station for a run, we cannot leave it unattended, especially with children. In the city of Dallas it is impossible to predict how busy we will be from day to day. However, in a city like Frisco, it is not uncommon to have only 1 or 2 runs for an entire 24 hour period. I know this because I have a couple of friends that work there. My station for instance, we average 12 to 13 runs per shift and depending on the type of run, that can keep us away from the station most of the day.

Webmaster's comment: The question itself borders on the hysterical side; there's no proof that these wild cats have any diseases. From what I've read, the feral colonies can be reduced and eventually eliminated via a TNR (trap-neuter-return) program. There is also a list of Feral / Stray Cat Organizations on pets911.com As recently as July 2007, we've had contact with a group called Feral Friends.org (contact info is on their web site).