Neighborhood areas get 300 new trees.

What are City Codes and how can we make them work better?

Grand opening of new Albertsons draws more than a thousand.

Nearby collection center for hazardous waste now open.

Will you help PTA build a new playground for NHE kids to use?

How to cope with fire ant invasion.

Real estate news.

Mayor Laura Miller to meet homeowners.

Review of year-to-date NHHA budget.

By Fred Williams

Well, summer is over and it was one of the nicest I can remember since my wife Pat and I moved to Dallas twenty years ago. We had just one day over 100 degrees. As a result of such a cool summer, our medians never looked better. But then, our beautification chairperson Barbara McAlister also had a lot to do with the way things look.

When I think of Barbara I can't help thinking of trees, trees, trees. She spearheaded the massive effort to get more than 300 young trees planted in the medians, around the library, Fretz Park, and Northwood Hills Elementary. Barbara appealed to our neighbors to make donations to the tree planting program and you came through with over $4,000 in contributions. We live in a great neighborhood where good people really make a big difference. See the article about trees below.

While I'm on the subject of trees, let me remind you that oak wilt disease is a major threat to the beauty of all of our oak trees. The frightening truth is that our Northwood Hills area has the highest incidence of oak wilt in north Texas. You can help prevent the spread of this disease by not trimming your oak trees when the insect that spreads it is active. DO NOT TRIM OAK TREES BETWEEN FEBRUARY 15 AND MAY 31. We will repeat a January 2002 article on this subject next time.

Pat joins me in wishing all of you a great holiday season with family and friends, enjoying our wonderful neighborhood at this special time of year.

Plan now to attend our Annual Meeting on January 29, 2003, at Northwood Hills Elementary School, 7pm. We will report on our financial condition and present plans for next year, as well as elect three new members to the Board of Directors. Please come and show your support for Northwood Hills Homeowners Association, Inc., meet new neighbors, and share a cup of coffee with us. See you there!

Acorns take too long…

MIGHTY OAKS FROM TINY SAPLINGS GROW

By Barbara McAlister

Three types of oak -- bur, chinquapin, and shumard red -- plus Chinese pistachio trees, all recommended for our north Texas area, are now taking root in medians, park grounds, and the campus of NH Elementary School. More than 300 of them were planted by volunteers during September and October. They may be young and spindly now, but they'll be nurtured and groomed to maturity in coming years to provide lasting beauty for our neighborhood.

For all those who contributed both money and personal time to the project, I thank you a thousand times. Our picnic at NHE (indoors) Sunday, November 3, was a joyful way to celebrate and repay so many who did so much to benefit us all.

Neighborhood beautification has had great support and made real progress in the last few years. It will remain a top priority for NHHA far into the future as our little trees grow into big ones.

Residential rules and regs…

CODE ENFORCEMENT A HOT TOPIC AT CITY CHARTER MEETINGS

At public meetings held in September to discuss city government, officials were impressed by the number of homeowners demanding stricter code enforcement in their neighborhoods.

Enforcing city codes and laws aimed at preventing nuisances on private property is the job of the Code Compliance Dept. of the City of Dallas. The department's representative in our area is Mr. Larry Bruggeman and he can use your help.

First, respect city codes as they apply to your property and don't be guilty of a violation yourself. Second, if you see a violation, telephone City Services Dispatch at 311 and report it.

For detailed information on city codes, access the dallascityhall.com Web site and click on Code Enforcement. There you will find summaries of residential codes relating to litter, weeds, obstructions, open storage, junked motor vehicles, signs, substandard structures, and more.

In our area, the most frequent code violation is putting out bulk trash too early. Bulk trash is not allowed at curbside sooner than the Thursday prior to pick-up week, which is the week of the second Monday of each month. Brush and bagged items placed at the curb should be on your property and not in the street where they may obstruct traffic. Actual pick-up dates for the next six months appear elsewhere in this newsletter. Details of regulations regarding bulk trash can be found on the city's Web site under Sanitation Department.

Finally, if you have questions about code enforcement for Larry Bruggeman, you can reach him at 214-957-8069.

Located just next door…

OPENING OF NEW ALBERTSONS STORE A GRAND EVENT

When it finally happened, it surpassed all expectations. The newest supermarket in the Albertsons chain opened Tuesday, October 22 on the northwest corner of Coit Road and Spring Valley.

The eagerly awaited event drew more than a thousand shoppers, along with city politicos from Dallas and Richardson, celebrities, clowns, strolling musicians, a band on a stand, neighbors you hadn't seen in years, and kids of all ages. You could gain weight eating free samples, and gather enough coupons to save a bundle at the check-out counter.

Inside the 63,000 square foot store there's a pharmacy, an in-store bakery, a floral department, video rental center, one-hour film processing -- even Krispy Kreme doughnuts! Store director Mark Drake (pictured above) is delighted at the response of area residents, reporting first-week store traffic in excess of 2,000 shoppers per day.

Welcome to the neighborhood, Albertsons!

News you can use…

TWO CITY SERVICES YOU MAY NEED -- AND NOT KNOW ABOUT

If you plan to clean out the garage anytime soon, you may have some hazardous waste to get rid of -- such as paint cans, old pool chemicals, and the like. These will not be taken in the usual garbage collection, as they are too dangerous to add to land fill.

If you plan any construction or heavy tree pruning this winter, you may need bulk trash pick-up in between scheduled pick-up dates.

The City of Dallas can help you with both these problems.

For hazardous waste matter, a new, nearby Home Chemical Collection Center is now open at 11234 Plano Rd. (Mapsco 28A) phone 214-553-1765. The service is free of charge to Dallas residents, but you must show your driver's license and a recent utility bill stub to prove residency.

For special bulk trash pick-up of construction waste, lumber, sheetrock, roofing or fencing -- even grass clippings -- not covered by usual monthly service, the city has a special cost-plus program you can request by calling 214-670-8613. The cost will be added to your next water bill.

NHE PTA needs your help…

NORTHWOOD HILLS ELEMENTARY TO GET NEW PLAYGROUND

Northwood Hills Elementary PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) plans to purchase and install new playground equipment at the school. Wooden structures now in use are known as "the incredible shrinking playground" because warped and broken boards removed for safety reasons aren't being replaced. There is no budget. That's why the PTA needs your help.

A durable new playground structure of plastic and metal will cost as much as $40,000. Sufficient funds have been raised to purchase the first phase, but much more is needed. Your tax deductible donation for any amount (large or small) would be greatly appreciated. Please make checks payable to NHE PTA, and mail to

If you have questions, call:

Principal Everett Williams 469-593-4300 PTA President Janet LeBel 972-392-0430 Disbursement Chairperson Lynn Carlton 972-392-2749

Your contribution will make a lot of school kids happy.

NEIGHBORHOOD CLUB NEWS WELCOMED

We would like to publish news of your club activities -- book club, luncheon club, garden club or whatever. Let us hear from you by January 29, 2003, and we'll do our best to include it in our February issue, due out around Valentine's Day. Send your news to Northwood Hills Newsletter, P.O. Box 800874, Dallas, TX 75380-0874 or email clubnews@northwoodhills.org

Kids and pets beware…

BUGGED BY FIRE ANTS? HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AND DO

All those cone-shaped mounds of black dirt you're seeing on lawns, medians, and vacant lots are colonies of fire ants. There can be thousands of them in a single colony, and they'll swarm over anything that disturbs them. If it's your pets' curious nose -- or worse yet, a childs' errant foot or hand -- the result can be multiple stings that are extremely painful.

Why are fire ants colonies suddenly so numerous? Experts say they've been here all along, just living underground and out of sight. Recent heavy rains have caused them to come to the surface in order to survive, bringing up with them fine soil granules that form the mounds.

If fire ants appear on your property, warn your family and keep pets away from the mounds. Then get rid of them using one or more of the following remedies:

Boiling water. Poured over the mound, this will probably require two or more applications to kill all the ants.

Corn meal. Yes, you can sprinkle plain old corn meal over the mound and when ingested by the ants it swells up inside and kills them. This works best on dry mounds in dry weather.

Insecticides. Your local hardware store has products especially made for fire ant control, but read the labels carefully.

To learn more about fire ants and how to control them, you can go to the Web site of Texas A&M Agricultural Research and Extension Center and click on Entomology.

Real estate update…

THIRD QUARTER A WINNER IN HOME SALES YEAR-TO-DATE

Of the 35 home sales in Northwood Hills January through September 2002, 40% occurred in the third quarter. At press time there were 42 homes on the market, five with offers and six others pending.

The Dallas area in total has more than a six-month average inventory of homes for sale, according to the Real Estate Center of Texas A&M University.

First Three Quarters Statistics

Area 1: Ten homes have sold with a high price of $440,000, a low of $225,000, and an average price of $306,500. These homes sold, on average, for 97% of list price. Average number of days on market: 51.

Area 2: Twelve homes have sold in Area 2 with a high price of $725,000 and a low of $220,000. Average price was $388,075. They sold for an average 96% of list. Days on the market averaged 118.

Area 3: Four homes were sold through the third quarter in Area 3, the highest price being $659,000 and the lowest $362,000. Actual to list sales price ratio was 97%. Number of Days on market averaged 115.

Area 4: Six homes have sold so far this year. High sales price was $730,000 and low was $429,000. Average sales price was $586,500; average versus list price was 97%; and average days on market was 32.

Area 5: Year-to-date, four homes have sold in Area 5. The highest price was $489,000, the lowest $260,000, and the average price was $356,625. Sellers received 98% of list price, on average, and the number of days on the market averaged 97.

Overall, third quarter 2002 was a good one for real estate in our area.

'Tis the season for sales tax …

GET FULL BENEFIT FROM YOUR TAX $$: KEEP THEM AT HOME

With the holiday season about to get under way, you may want to think about where you go to shop as well as what you go shopping for. Reduced sales tax receipts have already caused budget problems for the City of Dallas. With a little extra effort we can avoid making the situation worse.

Up here in far north Dallas, we are often drawn to shops and centers located in Addison, Richardson and Plano -- at the expense of those in our own home town. If we make a conscious effort, however, to do our shopping, buying and dining in Dallas, we keep sales tax dollars at home, and that serves our city as well as each of us.

"Location, location, location" takes on new meaning this Christmas. Think about it, and spend your tax dollars where they'll do the most good.

Time to clean out the garage…

PARKING ON THE STREET PUTS YOUR VEHICLE AT RISK

You're tempting the bad guys when you leave your car, SUV, or truck out front overnight, whether on the street or in your circular drive. Last year in the DPD North Central Division, 41% of reported offenses were theft and burglary of motor vehicles. Judging by the complaints I receive, this is a serious problem for Northwood Hills.

Thieves cruise our streets in the early morning hours. A desirable model auto is a target, but so is any valuable property left inside the vehicle subject to smash and grab burglary. Whether auto theft or burglary, it can be done in a heartbeat, the perpetrators long gone before their crime is discovered next morning.

To keep this from happening to you, use the safe harbor of your garage. If you must park out front, follow the DPD advice to LOCK, TAKE and HIDE, i.e., LOCK your car; TAKE your keys; HIDE your belongings. Don't become a victim of this preventable criminal activity.

Hosted by RANDCO…

MEETING WITH MAYOR LAURA MILLER SET FOR DECEMBER 10, 7PM

The Richardson and North Dallas Coalition Organization (RANDCO), made up of various area homeowners groups including NHHA, will conduct a "town hall" type meeting with Dallas Mayor Laura Miller as featured speaker. Council Members Lois Finkelman of District 11and Sandy Greyson of District 12 will be in attendance, as will officials from various City departments.

Possible issues to be discussed include code enforcement, improvements to the intersection of Coit and Spring Valley, hike and bike trails, and plans to improve area parks. The audience will have ample opportunity to ask questions.

The meeting will take place at 7:00 PM the evening of December 10 at the RISD Academy, 13630 Coit Road (east side of Coit south of Spring Valley). This is your opportunity to meet with your elected city officials, so don't miss it!

Your dues $$ at work…

NHHA OPERATIONS UNDER BUDGET FOR FIRST NINE MONTHS

         Jan-Sept    Budget     $+/-
Income
  Advertising    $2,100    $2,250     150-      
  Contributions       0       800     800-      
  Interest Inc      218       375     157-
  Mbrs Dues      86,890    89,000   2,110-
Total Income     89,208    92,425   3,217-
Expense
  Adv-Promo           0       600     600-
  Bank Serv Chg      70        72       2-
  Btification    13,404    16,515   3,111-
  Dues & Subscr      90       100      10-
  Internet          250        50     200
  Mbrshp Mtgs       261       350      89-
  Office Supplies   185       380     195-
  Patrol Costs   65,765    65,850      85-
  Pstge & Del     1,399     1,500     101-
  Prntg & Repro   3,311     2,990     321 
  Recruitment         0       200     200-
  Special Events    712     1,300     588-
  Taxes-Income      235       125     110
  Tel Hotline       146       150       4-
Total Expense    85,827    90,182   4,365-
Net Income        3,381     2,243   1,138

For more detail regarding the operating budget, visit www.northwoodhills.org and attend the Annual Meeting January 29, 2003, at Northwood Hills Elementary.