GREENVILLE - BELMONT - HENDERSON - CENTRAL - GOODWIN

P.O. BOX 720192 DALLAS, TEXAS 75372 VOICE MAIL: (214) 967-5134 WWW.VPNA.ORG

SPRING FEVER!

WE WANT YOU!

Looking to head up the circulation department of a major newspaper? No? Well, how about your Neighborhood News?

Vickery Place Neighborhood Association is looking for a volunteer to coordinate the monthly newsletter distribution. This person would be responsible for counting out the correct number of newsletters and delivering the bundles to the volunteer newsletter carriers once a month. He/she would also keep an updated spreadsheet of volunteer carriers, stay in contact with the carriers and recruit new carriers as needed.

We have an excellent neighborhood newsletter, one that we as a neighborhood association are really proud.

Making sure that the newsletter is distributed to all of the residents is a very important job. If you would like to coordinate the distribution, we could sure use your help. Please call Vickery Place Voice Mail at 214-967-5134.

APRIL GENERAL MEETING

DATE: THURSDAY APRIL 11, 2002

TIME: 7PM

PLACE: VICKERY TOWERS at

BELMONT & GREENVILLE

VOICE YOUR OPINION

The Vickery Place Neighborhood Association is trying to increase attendance at the monthly neighborhood meetings. Having attended some of the meetings in the past, what suggestions might you offer? What topics are of interest to you? Do you have any comments that you would like to share about the programs or speakers that we have had in the past? How convenient is the venue where we are holding the meetings? Entering, parking, etc.? What monthly reminders such as posted signs and e-mails would be useful? Vickery Place is a great place and this is an exciting time for us. The neighborhood association is your association and your input is needed. If you are interested in getting involved or just want to voice your opinion, please call the Vickery Place Voice Mail at 214-967-5134 or email us at info@vpna.org.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Shelia, Secretary to the Board

Bulky Trash/Ramas Grandes

Week of Monday, April 8th

VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4

APRIL, 2002

CRIME STATS

Burglary 8/25/2001 53xx Goodwin Ave

Theft 1/2/2002 54xx Goodwin Ave

Auto Theft 1/21/2002 54xx Goodwin Ave

Rape 1/21/2002 Withheld

Burglary 1/15/2002 55xx Vickery Blvd

Theft 1/7/2002 56xx Goodwin Ave

Theft 1/17/2002 28xx Greenville Ave

Theft 1/27/2002 56xx Vickery Blvd

Auto Theft 1/20/2002 55xx Goodwin Ave

Vandal 1/27/2002 28xx Greenville Ave

Vandal 1/15/2002 55xx Vickery Blvd

Theft 2/18/2002 54xx Goodwin Ave

Ag Assault 2/8/2002 28xx Greenville Ave

Auto Theft 2/5/2002 28xx Greenville Ave

Tel Harassment 2/12/2002 55xx Goodwin Ave

MARCH MINUTES

The monthly meeting of the Vickery Place Neighborhood Association was held on March 14^th at Vickery Towers.

Officer J. T. Johnson gave the area crime report. He also told us that Cochran Heights, adjacent to Vickery Place, has begun a Neighborhood Watch Program. Vickery Place will benefit from their organized efforts.

Officer Johnson stated, once again, the importance of calling in ALL suspicious activity to 911.

Athan Thompson, Assessments Coordinator, and Bart Longoria, Petition Project Coordinator, from the City of Dallas were featured guests at the meeting. David Potter of VPNA has been working with the City gathering information about alley paving. Athan explained the property owner petition project funding through the bond program. Alley paving improves property value so the property owner does assume a portion of the cost.

Morris Smart updated everyone on the St. Patrick's Day Task Program. An estimated 10,000 people were expected to attend the street party for the annual St. Patrick's Day celebration on lower Greenville this year. VPNA volunteers prior to the meeting had just placed no Parking signs throughout the neighborhood.

Morris also updated us on Henderson Avenue. Steps have been taken to help alleviate late night traffic, noise and litter brought about by patrons of the Henderson Avenue nightspots. Private Security has been hired to patrol the area and Cochran Height's Neighborhood Association is working on " residents only parking". Morris explained "parking space inventory" as part of the parking study that is being done for that concentrated area of bars and restaurants.

We hope to see everyone at the April Meeting.

GOODWIN PARK PROGRESS

Work continues on the Goodwin Park project. After the successful tree planting in February, we were left with a large pile of old concrete sidewalks and foundations that were dug up during the work. Fortunately, a public-spirited contractor working in the neighborhood offered to help. Mr. Buddy Webb, of Atkins Brothers Construction, took time out from installing new sewer and water mains in the alley to bring his equipment and crews to the problem. The concrete was hauled away, and the park is ready for more improvements. A big thank you to Mr. Webb and Atkins Brothers!

CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN FULL SWING IN VICKERY PLACE

If you are a homeowner in Vickery Place and you have not been contacted to sign the Conservation Feasibility Study Petition and you would like to sign, please leave your name, address and phone number on Vickery Place Voice Mail. A volunteer from the conservation committee will contact you. The person(s) collecting signatures for your block may have been unable to find you at home.

There are still a few blocks that are not represented by a volunteer. If you want your street and block included in Conservation you may want to volunteer to petition. Again, leave your name, address and phone number on Vickery Place Voice Mail at 214-967-5134 and someone will contact you.

PAY RAISE REFERENDUM FOR POLICE AND

FIRE FIGHTERS APPEARS LIKELY

If you voted in the mayoral election in January, you probably saw an off-duty police officer or firefighter collecting signatures for a petition. The purpose of the petition was to force the City of Dallas to call a referendum election for May 4 to allow citizens to vote on their demand for a 17 percent across-the-board pay increase. During her campaign for mayor, Laura Miller supported a pay raise for the uniformed services and received the endorsements of several police and firefighter associations. Since taking office, however, Mayor Miller has objected to their demand for a 17% pay increase in one year. She contends their demand would cost the City $60 million and result in a large property tax increase. Instead, she has offered the officers and firefighters a smaller increase, 15%, spread over three years. The mayor's plan would require her to free up $18 million in next year's budget, and many think even this amount will require a tax increase.

Police officers and firefighters insist they are underpaid when compared to other cities in the metroplex, particularly rookie officers whose starting salary is $33,300. Beginning officers in Carrolton make $40,140. The police and firefighters associations, who collected nearly 33,000 signatures to force a referendum, claim the voters are prepared to support a tax increase to pay for better salaries. City Council members note, however, that the officers' 17% demand is not limited to rookie officers. It would also apply to the chief-level officers, who currently make as much as $140,000 a year.

At the time of this writing, no deal has been reached between the mayor and the uniformed personnel. Therefore, the City is still on track for an election May 4 to have the voters determine the issue at the polls. With no City Council elections up this year, the pay raise referendum will dominate the ballot and is sure to create a lot of discussion. The police and firefighters' associations have promised to spend $200,000 on their campaign. So mark Saturday, May 4 on your calendar, and if no deal is reached, be prepared to come back to he polls for what will be the fifth election in Dallas this year. The polling location for most of Vickery Place is usually at Vickery Towers, while the north side of Goodwin usually votes at Unity Church on Greenville. Be sure to check your polling location before you go to the polls, however, because sometimes polling locations are changed, particularly for low turnout elections in which precincts are frequently combined. And remember, you can always vote early at any early voting location in the city, with or without your voter card.

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CODE COMPLIANCE AND

ENFORCEMENT PRIMER

Help us keep VPNA and the City of Dallas beautiful and safe by becoming familiar with the City Code requirements described below and by reporting violations.

Open Storage

Any item that is not customarily used or stored outside or is not made of material that is resistant to damage or deterioration from exposure to the outdoors cannot be placed outside for more than 24 continuous hours. Exceptions include motor vehicles on improved surfaces, lawn furniture and landscaping items.

Open and Vacant Structure

An owner shall keep the doors and windows of a vacant structure or vacant portion of a structure securely closed to prevent unauthorized entry. The City will secure the structure at the owner's expense if the owner does not secure the structure.

Garage Sales

The City of Dallas permits two garage sales each year per property. The sales may last no longer than three days and a person cannot sell merchandise acquired solely for resale purposes in the garage sale. A sign advertising the sale can only be placed on the property where the sale is occurring.

Junked Motor Vehicle

Motor vehicles that are inoperative and partially dismantled and have expired license tags or safety stickers are considered "junk motor vehicles." These vehicles are in violation of the Dallas City Code and may be ticketed. In cases of lengthy noncompliance, the City has the authority to remove a vehicle and sell it for salvage

The Dallas Code Compliance Department enforces city codes to prevent and abate nuisances on private property such as the ones described above and others.

To report a suspected code violation, or for other questions regarding the Dallas City Code, call 311 or visit www.dallascityhall.com.

HENDERSON AVE. PARKING STUDY

In October, at the request of VPNA and Cochran Heights NA, the City of Dallas Planning Dept. undertook a study of the existing parking spaces around the Henderson Avenue corridor. Plans announced for several new bars and restaurants in the area have heightened concerns about overflow of parking, noise and traffic into the adjacent residential areas.

In February, VPNA received the Henderson Avenue Parking Analysis from the City. The study showed that, since many retail businesses along Henderson are not required to provide parking due to a grandfather clause in the City Codes, there remain many parking lots available for use by new restaurants and bars. One new venture is under construction at 3001 Henderson, and two others are planned in the immediate future.

As a result, VPNA and CHNA are working jointly to develop proposals for dealing with the additional parking and traffic that will spill over into the neighborhoods. Possible measures include Resident Only Parking zones, increased security patrols, traffic diversions and street closings. All of these issues will be discussed at upcoming general meetings, and described more fully in future newsletters. Please plan to attend the meetings, or contact VPNA voice mail or Email for more information.

GREENLAND HILLS CRIME WATCH ANNOUNCES

SECOND ANNUAL HOME TOUR

Inspired by VPNA's own very successful home tour, our neighbors to the north started their own home tour last year. Obviously, there was much pent-up demand for this event. Lines were out the door; swarms of neighbors roamed the streets; and a festive atmosphere filled the neighborhood. All the proceeds went to support the Greenland Hills Crime Watch. The Crime Watch keeps neighbors informed on crime in the area through an automated phone system. It also hires off duty policemen to patrol the neighborhood and keep special tabs on houses when the owners are out-of-town. A little known secret is that residents in the northern part of Vickery Place are eligible to join the Crime Watch.

If there was a criticism of the Crime Watch's first home tour, it was that the houses were a bit spread out so that it was difficult to make all the homes on foot in one afternoon. Additionally, the tour was not widely publicized outside the immediate neighborhood. This year a special effort has been made to group the houses closer together and to let the surrounding neighborhoods know of the event well in advance. So if you would like to see some of the wonderful renovations in the M-Streets, "Head North" on Sunday, April 21^st, and prepare to be dazzled!

M-Street Home Tour

Sunday, April 21^st

1:00 - 5-00 p.m.

Tickets $15.00 per adult / children under 18 free

Accompanied by their parent.

Six Homes:

5442 Ridgedale

5431 Ridgedale

5146 Monticello

5503 Monticello

3323 Homer

For more information contact the Greenland Hills

Crime Watch at 214-855-7667

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GREEK TOMATO TART

Pastry for 1 pie crust pie

6 plum tomatoes, each cut lengthwise into 6 wedges

½ cup oil-cured olives, pitted

6 oz. Feta cheese

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Fit the pastry in a 9-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom. Prick the bottom with the tines of a fork. Bake just until the crust begins to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the crust from the oven and fill with the tomato wedges. Scatter the olives and cheese on top. Drizzle the olive oil over the tart and sprinkle with the thyme and pepper. Bake 25 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the tomatoes are soft.

~ Real Simple Magazine

BE KIND TO ANIMALS WEEK

MAY 5 _ 11

Along about the same time Vickery Place was being developed, the American Humane Society was designating the first nationally recognized week supporting kind treatment to animals. Conceived in 1915, the purpose of BE KIND TO ANIMALS WEEK was to encourage humane treatment of animals and to educate people of their responsibility toward animals. Hopefully May 5 _ 11 will serve to remind the residents of Vickery Place to be responsible pet owners.

Our pets rely on us for all of their needs. Add love, play and exercise to these five tips for being a responsible pet owner and your rewards will be plenty.

*Feed your pet appropriate food once or twice a day. Store their food in-doors in a closed container to keep it fresh and avoid attracting pests. Keep their feeding dishes clean.

*Make sure your pet(s) have plenty of cool, clean water. This is especially important with summer coming on. Remember, the sun will heat their water just like it does your cold drink.

*Provide a warm place in the winter and a cool, shady spot in the summer. Bring your animal in-doors if the weather is freezing in the winter. Never leave your animal in a closed car in the summer.

*Pets, like people, need medical attention. Take your pet in for regular check-ups, keep vaccinations current, use a flea and Heartworm preventative and spay/neuter your dogs and cats. If your pet shows signs of illness, call your veterinarian immediately. There are low cost medical facilities available for animals just as there are for people. The SPCA at 362 S. Industrial Blvd. offers services on a sliding scale to low income families.

*Be a good neighbor and keep your animal at home. Confine your dog to your yard by providing a fence or run,

but please do not tie or chain your dog. In addition to being a nuisance to your neighbors, free roaming dogs and cats are at risk of being lost, stolen or injured by a car or another animal. There is a city ordinance known as the Leash Law that makes it illegal to allow your dog or cat to run free. When you and your dog are out for a walk, remember to take along a plastic bag so that you can pick up after your dog.

If you witness abuse or neglect to an animal report it just as you would any other crime. Laws regarding animals have changed since the inception of Be Kind to Animals Week in 1915. Today, mistreatment of animals is a misdemeanor and often a felony. Officers from Animal Control will investigate reports of cruelty. If you have questions or concerns regarding animals, contact the SPCA of Texas at 1-888-ANIMALS ext. 143.