Northwood Hills Homeowners Association, Inc.
Winter 1999 Newsletter

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

By Larry Baker

The date of this newsletter reads "WINTER 1999" but average temperatures make it seem more like late spring or early summer. Ain't it great to live in Texas?

In our last newsletter, Fall 1998, we made an appeal for new members to join and prior members to "re-enlist. " Boy, did you ever respond! Our membership total on July 31, 1998 was 251. As of February 28, 1999 we had 460 members. That's an increase of 81% in only seven months! Your Board greatly appreciates this vote of confidence. I can assure you we will continue to work hard to justify your trust. Thank you!

On January 26, 1999 we held a Membership Meeting with an attendance of 150 members and guests. Ms. Sandy Greyson, District 12 Councilmember, spoke and stayed through the entire meeting to make sure she answered everyone's questions. Two Dallas City Staff personnel, Ms. Mary Suhm, First Assistant City Manager, and Mr. Coy Evans, Assistant Director, Streets & Sanitation, spoke to us on changes within their respective departments.

During the January meeting, we presented and obtained approval of our 1999 Budget. We elected three new Board members for two-year terms: Gene Hoffmann, Area 2A; Val Collins, Area 3; and Allen Rudy, Area 5. We also said goodbye to two Board members, past President Brenda Jones and Director of Security Patrol Dr. Bill Stutts, both of whom served NHHA with great distinction for more than five years. To our new Directors we say welcome, and to our departing Directors a BIG thank you and God bless. 1999 is off to a great start and the rest of the year promises to be fantastic! Thank you for your support! We look forward to seeing you at our April 12 Membership Meeting.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! NHHA MEETING APRIL 12 AT NORTHWOOD HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

By Larry Baker

At our January meeting, the Streets & Sanitation speaker stated that Far North Dallas will go to containerized garbage collection effective April 1, 1999. However, our NHHA area will not be phased in until July 1. Nevertheless, your Board felt it advisable to invite Streets & Sanitation personnel back to give us a personalized presentation. They agreed and we have set the next membership meeting as the time to do this.

The meeting will be held at 7. 00 PM. April 12 in the cafeteria at Northwood Hills Elementary School

You will be pleased to know that containers come at no cost to the homeowner. S&S will bring a sample of these dark green containers with them so we can all see, touch, even roll the thing (it has wheels). Since this is a new program, there are sure to be lots of questions, so don't miss this meeting.

Another subject S&S wants to talk to us about is the monthly curb-side pick-up of bulk trash. It seems that many of us are putting our trash out much too early. City Code says that we can place items at the curb one week prior to our scheduled collection week, but no sooner. The city will soon begin enforcing this, and if you are guilty it can cost you money. The purpose of the Code is to keep our neighborhood beautiful. We owe it to ourselves to cooperate with the city. A trashy neighborhood hurts property values.

CALL 972-480-5249 -- NHHA'S NEW 24-HOUR INTERACTIVE HOMEOWNER HOTLINE

By Glyn Jordan

Now you can leave a message, ask a question, or catch up on important NHHA news by calling our new homeowners information hotline.

Members and non-members alike are urged to use this convenient new service to register comments, questions or suggestions with Association leadership, and find out about Association activities and events. The voice mail will be monitored daily. All requests for information and/or action will be given to the appropriate Board Member.

This new service is for your benefit -- so try it by calling 972-480-5249. You'll like it!

DOES NHHA SECURITY PATROL LOWER OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME? YOU BE THE JUDGE

By Larry Baker

Residential burglaries in the NHHA area from 1988 through 1994 totaled 705, for an average of 100 burglaries per year. That was before we started the NHHA Security Patrol. Since the Patrol began in 1995, total residential burglaries for the three years through 1998 dropped to 156, an average of 39 per year. That's a 61 % lower annual rate for this neighborhood crime!

Our over-all objective, of course, is a ZERO crime rate in the NHHA area. As we strive for that goal, we will continue to work with our Security Patrol Officers to ensure that we get the best coverage our budget will allow.

The new voice mail feature on Patrol cell phones is a major improvement in this direction, both the Patrol Officers and 'our members agree. It allows members to report things as they happen -- rather than having to wait until an Officer is on duty. It also helps the Patrol to be-alerted to things that happen during off-duty hours.

The message remains the same -- "The more members, the more Patrol hours. The more Patrol hours, the more safety we have.

BE A LITTER-GITTER! ADOPT YOUR BLOCK AND KEEP IT LITTER-FREE

NHHA BUDGET FOR 1999 APPROVED AT MEMBERSHIP MEETING JANUARY 26

By Glyn Jordan

INCOME
	Membership Dues
	1998 Cash Reserves	$ 46,505
	1999 Dues	102,000
	1999 Dues Rec'd	20,480
	Net 1999 Dues		81,520
	Interest Income		300
	1999 Income		128,325
EXPENSES
	Advertising		1,000
	Beautification
		Water	3,000
		Meadowcrk Proj.	12,000
		Median Maint.	10,000
	Beautification Total		25,000
Dues & Subscriptions		300
Insurance		3,500
Office Supplies		400
Police Patrol
	Cellular Phone	1,200
	Patrol Cars	12,000
	Officers Pay	60,000
	Patrol Total		73,200
Postage		3,000
Printing		3,000
Special Events
	July 4 Parade	500
	Golf/Tennis/3K Run 1,000
	Special Events Total	1,500
Total Expenses	110,900
Cash Reserve	$ 17,425

Notes to approved budget:

The above budget, approved by the members at our January 26 annual meeting, is in the opinion of your Board realistic and achievable. In our next newsletter, we will present our Income & Expense statement as "actual year-to-date" against "budget. " With only two months into 1999, we do not have enough expense data to give a meaningful report at this time. We can, however, report that our actual income is slightly ahead of budget through 2/28/99. Dues notices for second quarter 1999 will be mailed before April 1. The post card notices will include payment information for all members accounts. Please contact me if you have any questions concerning NHHA finances or your individual payment information.

ANYONE FOR TENNIS, GOLF, 3K RUN?
SIGN UP FOR THESE NEW SPRING ACTIVITIES NOW!

Beginning with a tennis tournament in April, NHHA is rolling out three new activities that will involve our "athletes," embrace our newcomers, and bring us together socially. In July we hope to add a marching band to our Annual Fourth of July Parade.

Then in October, our walkers and runners will join in a 3K (one mile) Fun Run (including costume and centipede divisions), followed by a family picnic and Band Concert. Finally, a golf tournament for both men and women at Ridgeview Ranch Golf Club will close out our '99 events in October.

Stewart Mitchell is organizing the tennis tournament; Sherry Peart heads up the Parade again this year; Melissa Leibowitz has a hard working group, including Susan Hanchey and Steve Keller, planning the 3K run; and Larry Baker and I are in charge of golf. Volunteers are needed for all events. Those willing to help please call the NHHA Hotline (972-480-5249) and leave your name and phone number.

I WANTA PLAY TENNIS!

Name: ____________________________________________
Phone: ___________________________________________
Singles ______	Doubles	______	Mixed Dbls _______
Send to: NHHA Tennis, P.O. Box 800874
Dallas, TX 75380-0874

PART ONE OF THREE

A PERSONAL HISTORY OF NORTHWOOD HILLS

By Marion and Stewart Mitchell

In 1953 we left Dallas for New York with two college degrees and one baby to take a dream job on Madison Avenue. For the next seven years, Marion was a Westchester County mom married to a train-commuting adman while we had two more kids and banked some highly salable experience. An opportunity to return to Dallas brought me back for a job interview in 1959. 1 had just taken off from Love Field on the return flight to La Guardia when I got my first look at Northwood Hills. I liked what I saw.

From a thousand feet up, three things struck me. The development was new, it was near two golf courses, and it had curving streets and rolling hills. Those first impressions brought me back weeks later when my little family arrived in Dallas to begin a new chapter in our lives.

More than a year earlier, in the summer of 1958, the "Northwood Hills Addition" and four other new developments had been introduced to a home-hungry public in the annual "Parade of Homes" promotion by Dallas County builders. The first phase of Northwood Hills consisted of 268 lots bounded on the north by Spring Valley Road (yet to be built), on the west by Hillcrest, on the south by Alpha and Peyton Drive, and on the east by Carillon. Ten model homes on Ashridge were all there was to show at the initial opening of Northwood Hills. By the time Marion and I got here in 1959, a hundred more had been built and scores of families had moved in.

Northwood Hills was Dallas's northern frontier. Coit and Hillcrest were two-lane country roads. Spring Valley west of Coit was just a blueprint. And there was nothing but a cotton field all the way north to Belt Line Road. On both sides of Meandering Way, new houses were framing up all around. On Paldao Drive, three homes were occupied and four more were nearing completion. We fell in love with 7371 - six weeks before it was due to be finished. Our love affair with the house and the neighborhood has kept us here for forty years and seven grandchildren.

What brought it all about was a bold idea by three men, George Mixon, George Mixon, Jr. and W. T. "Bill" Troth. They envisioned a real estate development of greater magnitude and risk than ever before attempted in the Dallas area - more than 800 acres of luxury homes ranging in price from $40,000 to $200,000. One helluva gamble in that day and time.

NEXT. The Vision and the Reality

FRETZ PARK A HIDDEN ASSET OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

By Frank Clements

Northwood Hills homeowners have a very special asset that many of us are only dimly aware of: Fretz Park.

Yes, there is a Fire Station that can answer our call within five minutes. Yes, there is an outstanding Dallas Branch Library headed by librarian Laurie Hardaway. But did you know that there are more than 20 acres offering 18 tennis courts and a pro shop, three baseball diamonds, soccer and little league football fields, a swimming pool, a picnic area with children's swings, slides and other play equipment?

Even with all this, did you know that the main activities take place inside the Recreation Center? The Center is not just for "early voting, " but is a center for all age groups. It has a basketball court and three large meeting rooms that can be used for private parties, clubs, receptions, etc. Usually the rooms are used for classes in Art, Piano, Dance, Aerobics, Judo, Chess, and Table Tennis just to name a few.

An available eight-page brochure lists the many programs by age groups from 4-year olds to teens to adults. Senior programs for over-65s are listed in a separate brochure. The Center is headed by Mr. Robert Harder and a staff of seven, but volunteers are always needed to assist. Anyone wishing to participate as a Recreation Center Volunteer should contact Mr. Harder at 214-670-6203, or call the NHHA Hotline at 972-480-5249 and leave your name and number.

In future newsletters we will profile special upcoming events at Fretz Park. In the meantime, to participate in current programs and activities the cost is minimal -- $7.00 for ages 18- $5.00 for age 63 and over; $1.00 for ages 12-17; and FREE for all under 12.

PTA NEWS FROM NORTHWOOD HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

By Colleen Sprinkle

We need your help to protect and improve quality public education at Northwood Hills Elementary School. Tightened state financing and increased educational costs have made private fund-raising more vital than ever for NHE.

Your next-door, neighborhood school was recently named an Exemplary School by the Texas Department of Education. We are also proud to be on the cutting edge of computer technology by being the first RISD elementary school to have every classroom linked to the Internet to facilitate student learning.

Much of this progress has been a result of generous donations at PTA-sponsored functions. These funds enabled NHE to purchase computer software, technology supplies, readers, and assemblies. We were also able to renovate the playing fields used by NHE and Spring Valley Athletic Association.

In order to maintain this vital financial support, the Parent Teacher Association will be having several spring functions, two of which are:

Spring Flower Sales

Use the enclosed form to order and help your school.

Psychedelic Saturday - May 1, 1999

A night of family fun. Dress up in your wildest costume and be prepared to bid on a wide variety of items at our silent and live auctions. There'll be music and crafts for the kids, and box dinners for everyone from one of our neighborhood's favorite sources. The fun begins Saturday, May 1 at 6:30pm. Donations are welcome!

NHHA TO SEEK $ AID FROM CITY OF DALLAS IN FUNDING MEDIAN BEAUTIFICATION

By Val Collins & Barbara Dunn

We may be able to get as much as $10, 000 in matching funds from the City of Dallas to help us beautify our medians!. This exciting news was revealed at the January membership meeting by Coy Evans of Streets & Sanitation.

We followed up with Mr. Evans to learn more about the program. Bottom line is that we will soon submit our landscape plans with cost estimates for approval by the City. Approval time is three to four weeks. Once approved, we can begin construction. When the project is completed, we submit all paid bills to the City for reimbursement at 50% of total expenditures up to a maximum of $10,000.

We're in the process of completing the necessary forms and expect to submit them the week of March 8. With any luck, we can begin work on Meadowcreek West in early April!

NHHA's total budget for beautification in 1999 is $25,000. An essential part of that budget goes to median maintenance. The successful bidder for our 1999 maintenance requirements was R.J.S. Gardens. In charge of the work by R.J.S. is Pete Scott -- no stranger to many Northwood Hills residents as they currently take care of more than 25 landscaped yards in our neighborhood.

If you have questions now or in coming months about median beautification or maintenance, call the new NHHA hotline and leave a message for Val or Barbara.

NHHA TO HELP CITY GET TOUGH ON NEIGHBORHOOD CODE ENFORCEMENT

By Barbara Dunn & Allen Rudy

At the January meeting, Mary Suhm, First Assistant City Manager, made a strong and informative presentation on Code Compliance and Enforcement.

Highlights of her remarks:

Code Compliance and Enforcement functions have been consolidated into a single department under Ms. Suhm's direction.

The City has established a C&E Academy for training all inspectors. The first class graduated from the new academy the day of our meeting.

Ms. Suhm requested that NHHA develop and submit a "Neighborhood Plan" specifying the ten most common code violations in our area. Your Board is in the process of compiling such a list, and we want your help. Please submit any suggestions you have on this pressing subject to Barbara Dunn at 972-233-2604 or Allen Rudy at 972-233-1135. You may also use the new NHHA Hotline at 972-480-5249 to make comments or ask questions.

Ms. Suhm described in detail the steps that the city is required by law to follow in response to complaints on code violations. Some, such as trash and litter complaints, can be handled quickly. Others, which may involve zoning and/or property in disrepair, may take longer. The type of complaint dictates the procedure the city must follow. In extreme cases, many notices must be filed before corrective action can be taken. As frustrating as this is, it demonstrates that by law the city cannot arbitrarily take away a property owner's rights without due process.

If you have a specific code violation you wish to report to the City of Dallas, call the "non-emergency" number 311, or call the Code Department direct at 214-670-5708.

AVERAGE NH HOME SALES PRICE IN 1998 WAS $331,651

By Cris Murrey

According to the Greater Dallas Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service, 62 homes in Northwood Hills were sold last year. Average price per square foot was $90.86, and average number of days on market was 88. The breakdown by NHHA area:

Area 1B - 9 sold		
High $380,000 
Low 189,000 
Avg 264,778

Area 2A - 12 sold
High $350,000
Low 195,000
Avg 290,000

Area 2B - 5 sold 
High $460,000 
Low 210,000 
Avg 313,000

Area 3 --- 12 sold
High $623,000
Low 215,000
Avg 419,058

Area 4 --- 9 sold 
High $625,000 
Low 240,000
Avg	406,722

Area 5 --- 15 sold
High $640,000
Low 150,000
Avg	295,646

NOTE: When new neighbors move in near you, please call or Email Val Collins with names and addresses so NHHA can welcome them to Northwood Hills. Thank you!

NEWS FROM NORTHWOOD HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

By Everett Williams, Principal

We're having a great year here at NHE! I'm sure you've noticed our "Exemplary" banner out front. This is the Texas Education Agency's highest rating. It is based on several factors, but comes mainly from our high scores last spring on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) Test. Fewer than one-fourth of RISD schools achieved this level.

I know that many of you have children beyond the elementary school, but don't let that stop you from coming by to see what we've got here at NHE. Let us show you around. We're proud of the new technology that contributes to our kids' learning, much of it made possible by the Bond Issue you passed two years ago.

The scraping and leveling of our playground will lead to installation of a watering system. Thanks to our super PTA, we will soon have a beautiful green backyard instead of the dry, cracked grounds of recent summers.

I would also like to thank those of you who are volunteer tutors here at NHE. If you would like to know more about this excellent program, call us at 972-448-2820. You can help make a great difference in the life of a child. Thank You for all the good things NHHA does for our neighborhood!

NEWS FROM WESTWOOD JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

By Lynn Allen, Principal

Our big news is that in the upcoming 1999 school year Westwood Junior High will become a Math, Science & Leadership Magnet School. Furthermore, we are committed to becoming most uniquely successful magnet school in entire RISD. To achieve this goal, we have established five standards of excellence for our students to meet or exceed.

These five standards are:

• 90% of the students assigned to WWJH as seventh-graders for 1999 will remain to complete their ninth grade year.
• The combined number of students attending WWJH will increase annually for three years beginning in 1999.
• The number of entries in Math and Science contests will increase annually for three consecutive years.
• The percent of passing Math and Science TAAS scores will increase annually for three consecutive years.
• Within three years, Westwood will have the highest percentage of passing Math and Science TAAS scores of all junior high schools in the Richardson School District.

These are tough standards, but Westwood Junior High is determined to meet them. Our motto is, "The Best Belong at Westwood. " We welcome everyone in Northwood Hills to visit us at WWJH. We would love to show you around our campus.

FRETZ PARK LIBRARY IS A RICH RESOURCE OF SERVICES, ACTIVITIES & INFORMATION

By Laurie Hardaway, Manager

I am delighted to be able to describe many of the good things we have to offer right here in your neighborhood, such as pre-school storytimes lasting 90 minutes each Wednesday evening and Friday morning; a First Monday Book Discussion Group; beginning Internet and Library Database classes that meet on Saturday mornings twice a month; free income tax assistance, including volumes of reproducible tax forms by the copy machine; and an active and supportive Friends of the Library group currently selling beautiful pot plants and baskets.

There simply isn't enough space for me to list all the benefits available to you at Fretz Park Branch, but please come by and let me tell you about them personally. We are open every day but Thursday and Sunday. Our telephone number is 214-670-6420. Come see us!

Comments? Please drop us an email.
Material Copyright © 1999 Northwood Hills Homeowners Association, Inc.