Residents warned of grave threat to area oak trees

Non-members urged to review benefits of joining NHHA.

Fretz Recreation Center offers spring programs and activities for all ages.

Lois Finkelman seeks volunteers for Council committee posts.

Northwood Hills 2002 home sales plus prices over last 5 years.

NHHA annual report for 2002, budget for 2003

Our annual meeting was held Wednesday evening, January 29, at Northwood Hills Elementary School. Thanks again to Dr. Everett Williams for making the school available.

We had the best turnout I can remember -- about 140 people attended. It was what we call a "meet and greet" event. Starting at 6pm, wonderful Tex-Mex food, snacks, soft drinks and exhibits were provided by Enchilada's, Albertsons, GCS and various Preferred Merchants. Earl Barnette and Shelia Baxter supplied coffee and cookies. It was a great time for neighbors to enjoy snacking and visiting with one another.

webmaster's note: photos are here on the web site

The business meeting started at 7pm. Our treasurer reported on last year and presented the budget for 2003. You can read all about it below. Most important was the election of seven new Board members for two-year terms. New Members at Large are Mark Carlton, Richard Miner, Amy Zepeda, and Earl Barnette. Representing Area 5 is Peter D'Apice, Area 3 Mike Metzger, and Area 1 Shelia Baxter. We have a very strong Board going into the new year.

Allen Rudy and Barbara McAlister were presented plaques honoring their past service on the Board. Allen served four years and Barbara three.

My message to the members was a plea, as always, to help us increase membership. This is vital because we are a community of 1145 homeowners with shared goals. We want our neighborhood to be safe and beautiful. We want our homes to increase in value. We live in a very desirable area and want to keep it that way. The more members we have improves our Patrol coverage, gives us a stronger voice at City Hall, enables more beautification, and spreads all these responsibilities more evenly.

Toward this end, I announced a membership drive for 2003 called "EACH ONE GET ONE." In your membership package you will find a blue card that explains it. Simply stated, if you sign up a new member and collect the first quarterly dues check, you will get one quarter of your own dues free.

I hope each of you gets one or more. Go for it!

Now is start of danger period…

WARNING! OAK WILT DISEASE THREATENS OUR BEAUTIFUL TREES!

So much of the beauty of Northwood Hills comes from our majestic oak trees, beloved assets that are in grave danger from mid-February through May because of a menacing disease called Oak Wilt.

The frightening truth is that our neighborhood has the highest incidence of Oak Wilt in this part of north Texas. So it is crucial that homeowners know the facts about this threat and what we can do to protect our precious trees. The following information has been extracted from a paper written by Russell N. Peters of Arborilogical Services, Wylie, Texas.

Oak Wilt is caused by a fungus that blocks the vessels in a tree that carry water and nutrients up to its leaves. The disease is spread by an insect carrying the fungus spores from infected trees to healthy ones -- most commonly in late winter and early spring of the year. In other words, NOW!

The disease can also spread underground from an infected tree to a healthy one by root contact. Once a tree is infected, only rarely can the disease be reversed and the tree restored to health. Prevention, on the other hand, has a 90% chance of success. Two methods are recommended.

First, avoid pruning red oaks and live oaks during the period from mid-February through May.

At this time the spore-carrying insect, which feeds on sap, is most active in north Texas. The cuts in a tree's bark caused by pruning attract the insect.

Second, the spread of the disease by underground root contact can be avoided by injecting fungicide into the root flare at the base of healthy trees.

This preventive treatment is vitally important if there are infected trees on or near your property. Fungicide injection can protect a tree for about two years.

Symptoms of Oak Wilt infection differ by oak species. Symptoms on red oaks are usually seen as an oily green sheen on the leaves that rapidly turns a tan color before they fall off. Symptoms on live oaks vary, but the most common appears as a color change in the veins of the leaves, the lateral veins turning brown while the rest of the leaf remains green. Defoliation often occurs simultaneously. If your yard contains prized red oaks or live oaks, it will pay you to remain alert to the threat of Oak Wilt. Prune your trees only during the "safe" months after the end of May and before mid-February. And be aware of the condition of oak trees on nearby property -- watching for any tell-tale symptoms of infection. You may also want to get acquainted with a local tree service, just in case.

If you haven't yet joined…

TEN GOOD REASONS FOR BECOMING A MEMBER OF NHHA

1. Improving property values. Elsewhere in this issue you'll find dramatic evidence of the growing value of homes here in Northwood Hills, as measured over the past five years by the Greater Dallas Association of Realtors. These reasons for belonging to NHHA are also reasons why our property values have risen.
2. Lowering crime rates. Since NHHA's founding in 1991, crime has been steadily reduced in our neighborhood, category by category. The addition of daytime hours to the NHHA Patrol has meant greater safety and security for Northwood Hills residents.
3. Protecting neighborhood standards. From arguing before city boards to uphold setbacks and other building restrictions, to encouraging code compliance by residents, NHHA actively promotes and protects the quality standards that set our neighborhood apart from others. Everyone benefits.
4. Addressing issues with City Hall. We must speak up if our neighborhood's goals and needs are to be recognized by city government. And a well-informed NHHA membership, speaking with a single voice, is the best way to be heard.
5. Beautifying our common areas. Not only is a portion of membership dues spent each year on projects that increase the beauty of our neighborhood, but NHHA members volunteer countless hours of their time to preserve, maintain, and enhance the assets we already have.
6. Saving $$ with Preferred Merchants. Exclusive discounts at 20 area retailers are available only to members of NHHA. Show your 2003 membership card and get from 20% off your dinner check to 15% off clothing items. See the current list of Preferred Merchants and discounts on our Web site, www.northwoodhills.org.
7. Enjoying events and activities. What's a neighborhood all about if it isn't social? NHHA conducts events throughout the year that attract all ages. Ideas for new activities are always welcome. Give us yours.
8. Keeping well-informed by e-mail. News you can use about neighborhood matters, from tips on crime prevention to special offers by area merchants, gets sent directly to members' e-mail addresses.
9. Networking with neighbors. You'll get to know more neighbors -- and more about your neighborhood. NHHA keeps members better informed and better able to meet the demands of home ownership. Catch the spirit of "all for one and one for all" that helps each of us help others.
10. Enjoying a sense of community. By fostering closer bonds among neighbors, NHHA unites members and non-members alike toward the same goal: making our neighborhood the best it can be.

Year 2002 Real Estate Review

56 homes in Northwood Hills were reported sold in 2002, according to the Greater Dallas Association of Realtors. The sales were spread throughout the year with 8 sales in the 1st Quarter, 15 in the 2nd Quarter, 15 in the 3rd Quarter, and 18 in the 4th Quarter. Despite a sluggish economy, values in our neighborhood remained high.

The following statistics are for general information only. Be aware that in a neighborhood of custom homes as diverse as ours, price per square foot is not as important as lot size, location, condition, interior finish, functionality, landscaping and, most important, updating.

HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS?

We continue to have problems with wrong addresses when we send our e-mail alerts to members. We know you like getting news of your neighborhood this way because you tell us so. But we also want you to tell us when you change your address or Internet Service Provider (ISP). Send your new address to membership@northwoodhills.org. Thanks!

Questions we get asked…

WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO FIX THAT CORNER?

In question is the eyesore southwest corner at Belt Line and Hillcrest. The short answer is no time soon. The City of Dallas plans to re-do the entire intersection, including a dedicated right turn lane which will remove the problem as it now exists. So, we wait.

Seeking citizens to serve…

COUNCILMEMBER LOIS FINKELMAN WANTS YOU

. Our representative on the City Council, Lois Finkelman of District 11, has three appointive positions to fill:

• Environmental Health Commission
• Senior Affairs Commission
• South Dallas and Fair Park Trust Board

If you would like to serve in any of these positions, please contact Councilmember Finkelman by writing her at

or by e-mail at lfinkel@ci.dallas.tx.us.

Whatever your age or interests…

CHOOSE FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES AT FRETZ REC CENTER

Program Supervisor Christy Burgess wants you to know there's something for every-one at Fretz Park. The spring lineup of programs and events follows. Registration is going on now for Spring Break Discovery Camps. Boys and girls ages 7-14 are treated to field trips and fun activities at the recreation center during spring break -- March 10-14 for RISD students, March 17-21 for DISD. Cost is $135 per person, but call now because enrollment is limited. 214-670-6203

For kindergarten kids, there's the Kinder Koral program that teaches and entertains from 9:30 to 11:45am every Tuesday and Thursday morning. Students must be enrolled in Northwood Hills, Spring Creek, or Bowie elementary school kindergartens. The program costs $14 per day in sessions lasting eight weeks. Call Marci Kellner, 972-931-9031.

Summer isn't as far off as you think. Registration begins soon for Summer Camp Programs at Fretz Park. All kinds of camps are planned, such as Stay-N-Play Camp, Discovery Camp, various sports camps, science camps, art camps, martial arts and theater arts camps. Come by to register beginning Monday, March 24, or call 214-670-6203 for more information.

Get ready for the annual Fretz Rec-reation Center Spring Garage Sale. It will be held on Saturday, April 5, from 8:00am to noon. If you want to shop, just show up, but if you want to sell you'll need a booth. There are 25 available, first come, first served, first paid. $25 for one table, $40 for two. Call now, 214-670-6203.

Adult classes are many and varied, including Yoga, Aikido, practical self defense and women's self defense, and all kinds of morning and evening exercise classes. For details, come by Fretz Park or call 214-670-6203. Christy Burgess wants Fretz to be your recreation center.

NHHA ANNOUNCES TWO NEW SPRING EVENTS

Sunday, 2 March 2003

Come to Enchilada's Restaurant from 12 noon to 2pm to meet, greet, and have lunch if you choose, with your Northwood Hills neighbors. Located in the shopping center just east of Montfort and Belt Line, Enchilada's offers NHHA members a 10% discount on all food. Just bring your 2003 membership card -- or join NHHA on the spot -- and enjoy a delicious, neighborly Sunday afternoon.

Please let George Amado of Enchilada's know you're coming -- kindly RSVP to 972-759-0600.

Saturday, 19 April 2003

NHHA invites you to bring the kids and participate in the first annual Eggstraspecial Eggstravaganza Egghunt at Northwood Hills Elementary School, beginning at 3pm.

You don't have to be a member of NHHA. All ages are welcome, and each age group will have a specially marked hunting area. Come on out for some good, old-fashioned fun.

Happy hunting!

2002 Annual Report & 2003 Budget

The Association's financial results for 2002 were very close to plan. Income and Police Patrol costs were virtually the same as 2001. But by reducing other expenses more than $6,000 we increased net income for the year by 169%.

Our cash balance of $28,686, plus $8,800 contingency reserve, is the same as last year. Total assets and total liabilities for 2002 are within $200 of 2001.

Because of economic uncertainty, we have postponed three beautification projects. If they are activated this year, our cash balance will be reduced by an estimated $5,500. We feel we need this level of surplus until more homeowners commit to membership.

Our 2003 budget is basically the same as 2002 actual numbers, except for slight increases in advertising income, beautification, printing, postage, and special events costs.

BUDGET
                   '02Budget     '02Actual    '03Budget
Income                                
Advertising            2,850         3,000        5,000
Contributions            800             0            0
Interest Income          500           238          200
Members Dues         120,000       116,470      117,000
Total Income         124,150       119,708      122,200
Expense
Advertising              600             0            0
Bank Serv Chgs            96            77           80
Beautification        22,035        20,043       21,870
Donations                  0           100          100
Dues & Subs              150           120          150
Insurance              5,000           785          900
Internet                 300           250          300
Members Mtgs             350           261          300
Office Supplies          500           372          400
Patrol Costs          87,800        88,258       88,400
Postage & Del          2,000         1,916        2,400
Prntg & Repro          3,980         4,134        5,000
Recruitment              200             0            0
Special Events         1,300           712        1,400
Taxes-Income             125           235          125
Telephone-Hotline        200           194          200
Total Expense        124,636       117,457      121,625

Net Income               486-        2,251          575


BALANCE SHEET
As of December 31, 2002
Assets                Dec.31'02      Dec.31'01  
   Current Assets
     Cert Deposit             0         30,000
     Compass Bank
       Cont Reserve       8,800          8,800
       Other             28,686          1,156-
     Total Cmp Bnk       37,486          7,644
     Total Chk/Svgs      37,486         37,644
   Other Current Assets
      Pstg Deposit          416             88
Total Assets             37,902         37,732
Liabilities & Equity
   Current Liabilities
      2002 Adv Dues           0          3,000
      2003 Adv Dues
         1st Qtr            600              0
         2nd Qtr            200              0
         3rd Qtr             60              0
         4th Qtr             60              0
Total Liabilities           920          3,000
Equity
   Opening Bal '98        1,956-         1,956-
   Ret Erngs'99-'01      36,688         39,948
   Net Income             2,251          3,260-
Total Equity             36,982         34,732
Total L & E              37,902         37,732