NHHA Patrol to add daytime hours in a test beginning November 1. Five days a week, five hours a day, officers will be on the lookout for burglary, robbery and theft. Story on page 2.

City of Dallas adopts new recycle plan that's expected to improve service. How to handle specific items for pick-up detailed on p. 2.

Home sales in our neighborhoods keep going strong. Cris Murrey's real estate update appears on page 3.

Fretz Park Library offers programs and activities for people of all ages and a wide variety of interests. Branch Manager Mirielle Kotoklo describes them on page 3.

NHHA Golf Tourney produces cool results including a one-stroke victory by the winning team. Story and pictures appear on center spread, page 4.

Fall Festival draws record number of kids. Story and photos are on page 4, center spread.

Did you feel, as I did, like the long, dry summer would never end? If you were among the hardy souls who turned out on Saturday, September 23, for our Fall Festival of Fun you probably felt that way. It was really HOT! Then two days later on September 25, participants in our annual Golf Tournament discovered that summer had ended for sure. It was really COLD! But everyone at both events had a great time anyway, as the story and pictures inside will attest.

Hats off to Ross Sanders, chairman of special events, to Susan Hanchey for planning the Fall Festival, and to Larry Baker for the Golf Tourney. Our organization couldn't exist without these hard working volunteers who give so freely of their time and energy. In doing so they define what it means to be a good neighbor.

The NHHA Membership Drive began October 1, and by the time you get this newsletter every home in Northwood Hills should have received a package of information about the Association. Our membership has grown from 250 two years ago to nearly 500 at the first of this month. That's still less than half the 1,145 total homes in our area, so spread the word and help us do better.

With additional members we can provide more services and possibly reduce our dues. If you are not yet a member, please call 972-381-6033 and leave a message for Cris Murrey, our membership chair, along with your name, address and phone number.

Cris has put together a super package of information for new and old members alike. including a bound version of "A Personal History of Northwood Hills, 1959-1999" written by Stewart and Marion Mitchell. This account of the first forty years of our neighborhood appeared in three parts in previous newsletters. The new version includes photographs of the very beginning of Northwood Hills that will boggle your mind. Don't miss it! Then join up!

NHHA PATROL ADDS TO DAYTIME COVERAGE

In a test beginning November 1, 2000, the NHHA police patrol will be cruising our neighborhood during daytime hours five days a week, Monday through Friday. The officers will work five hours per day -- with no set pattern -- between the hours of 7 AM and 7 PM. If the test helps reduce crime, and we can increase membership enough to fund it, daytime patrols will continue in 2001.

This added coverage is aimed at reducing burglary, robbery and theft, more than one-third of which are committed during daylight hours and weekdays.

Also, presence of the patrol during peak drive-time is expected to cut down on traffic violations such as speeding and running lights and stop signs.

Whenever possible, the patrol will be in the vicinity of our schools at opening and closing times to protect our children from traffic and other dangers.

Your Board is pleased to test -- and hopefully implement -- this improvement to the safety of our neighborhoods.

HERE'S NEWS YOU CAN USE ABOUT DUES

In an effort to reduce mailing costs, we have sent fourth quarter statements only to members who have not paid their dues in full for this year. Statements for first quarter 2001 will also include any unpaid balances from the current year. In some cases, members have paid more than the annual total of $240 in dues this year, and they will be credited for this next year.

We appreciate your prompt response to our dues notices in the past. If you have questions about dues, call our NHHA Treasurer.

As of October 2…

NEW, IMPROVED RECYCLE PROGRAM NOW IN EFFECT

The City of Dallas has entered into partnership with Community Waste Disposal, Inc. (CWD) to provide an expanded recycling program. Your present recycle pick-up days are not changed.

Paper items such as newspapers, magazines, junk mail, home/office paper, chipboard such as cereal boxes -- but no phone books or corrugated cardboard -- should be placed in a brown paper bag.

Glass in clear, brown, or green colors, plastic bottles with codes 1,2, or 3, aluminum cans, steel/tin food cans, and aerosol cans may all be placed in the blue translucent bags which you purchase at your grocery or discount store.

Place brown paper bags and blue plastic bags next to your garbage container by 7 AM on your usual recycle day. Avoid putting paper items out when rain is due.

If your bags have not been picked up by 6 PM on collection day, call 311.

BE A LITTER-GITTER!
Adopt your block and
KEEP IT LITTER-FREE!

Real estate update…

HOME SALES KEEP CLIMBING IN 3rd QTR

Through October 24, fifty-six homes in Northwood Hills had been reported sold, according to the Greater Dallas Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service. Details of transactions follow:

SALES PRICE    $$ PER SQ.FT.    DOM
High	  $770,000	      $153.63	     232
Low	  $140,000	      $  63.33	        1
Avg	  $376,650	      $103.38	       50
Med	  $336,800	      $100.15	       21
	NUMBER SOLD BY PRICE RANGE
	 $100,000s   5	     $400,000s  10
	 $200,000s  17     $500,000s   6
	 $300,000s  13     $600,000s   3
	             $700,000s   2

At press time there were 28 homes listed for sale and five of those had option contracts. Two others had contracts pending. The list price of these homes ranged from $194,000 to $799,000.

For a new structure…

HOW CLOSE IS TOO CLOSE TO LOT LINE?

Neighbors have asked me about how close they can build a structure to the common property line of an adjacent lot. The short answer is between six and ten feet. The minimum set-back is determined by the size of your lot as well as zoning regulations in your area. Old deed restrictions might vary from this, but most are no longer in effect in Northwood Hills. You can use six to ten feet as a rule of thumb, but you'll need the applicable specifics from the City.

FRETZ PARK LIBRARY A VALUABLE RESOURCE

Think of this neighborhood branch of the big central public library downtown as a rich resource of information, actvities, and learning within minutes of your home. The Fretz Park branch offers programs for people of all ages. Pre-school story time is scheduled twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays. A book discussion group gathers every first Monday of the month. Along with free internet access at all times, an Internet Basics class is taught twice a week. For more information about activities, call 214-670-6420.

Many Northwood Hills residents are members of Friends of Fretz Park Library, a support organization begun five years ago that currently has 65 active members. The Friends group initiates many projects and programs aimed at getting more people involved in this neighborhood resource, as well as raising funds and material donations to improve the facility. If you're interested in Friends of Fretz Park Library, call Susan Davis at 972-490-1247. Then come see us!

Second annual outing…

NHHA GOLF TOURNEY A "WAY COOL" SUCCESS.

September 25 dawned bright and clear -- a beautiful day for golf. The only hitch was that Mother Nature handicapped us with surprise low temperatures in the mid-fifties and a wind chill of 45 degrees!

Undaunted, a field of forty-three intrepid swingers teed it up at 8 AM for the second annual NHHA Golf Tournament at Ridgeview Ranch Golf Club. Four hours and 30 minutes later when the dust had settled, these were the winners:

• First Place (best two net ball): Hutch McClendon, Doug Roper, Kevin Roper and Todd Shipley at 124.
• Three teams were tied at 125, and under tie-breaking rules the runners-up were: Second Place: Conrad Sommers, Tom Johnston, Ed Garahan and Randy Garrett.
• Third Place: Dan Dotson Sr., Dan Dotson Jr., Martel Ruff and Frank Rivera. Fourth Place: Fred Williams, Roger Martens and Ben Dickerson.

• Year 2000 Champion: Dallas Dobbs with low gross of 80.
• Low Net: Jody Norman with a 67.
• Closest to Pin (#5): Randy Garrett.
• Straightest Drive (#16): Larry Baker.

90% of the golfers said they would favor two golf tournaments next year, and we will recommend this to the Board. Congratulations to all! In the meantime, remember to keep it in the short grass -- and we'll see you next year!

Sept. 23 more like July…

NHHA FALL FESTIVAL IS "RED HOT" EVENT!

For the second year in a row, fun-seekers at our Fall Festival endured 95-degree heat. That didn't dampen their enthusiasm, however, as more than 250 friends and neighbors came early and stayed late. Also, this year we had a noticeable increase in attendance of kids, solid testemony that NHHA offers the kind of events that families want.

The evening began at 5 PM with a tree-shaded picnic just south of the Fretz Park pool. Festival director Susan Hanchey was ready for the heat, having arranged through Jeanne Wilgus for Groceryworks.com to bring free popsicles for everyone. Young and old alike welcomed the frozen treats, along with soft drinks and bottled water provided free at several locations.

Between the ever-popular playground and Poppins the Clown painting little faces to look like kitty cats and butterflies, the scores of kids present had a very active good time. Highlight of the evening was an hour of big band music by the fifty-member Town North Concert Band -- a highly entertaining climax to this most successful neighborhood event.

In addition to the pictures you see here (thanks to Earl Barnette), you can view more on our northwoodhills.org Web site. Check it out on a regular basis for constantly updated news and information about our neighborhood and Northwood Hills Homeowners Association, Inc..