Casa Linda Forest Neighborhood Association

CLFNA Summer Newsletter

Aug 30, 1999

Summer

NEWSLETTER

EXECUTIVE BOARD

President - Judy Hall

VP Administration - Bill Coleman

VP Communications - Kathe Crapster

VP Safety & Neighborhood Services and Crime Watch Chair -

Jim Clarkson

Secretary - Linda Smith

Treasurer - Ed Martin

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Public Schools - Mary Beth Bossart

Membership & Activities -Eileen Clarkson

Beautification - Charley Pitcher

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Parliamentarian -Bill Grumbles

Voice Mail Coordinator - Judy Hall (214-967-5076)

We?’re thumbs-up for the neighborhood!

COME ONE! COME ALL!

Tuesday, August 3rd will be our big Third Annual Night-Out Against Crime giant block party and general CLFNA meeting. Thousands of other neighbors across the country and even overseas will be joining with us in the celebration of this national event. Texas has led the nation in participation for three years straight. Do all these "threes" mean it?’s a charm that this will be our best party ever? Judging by all the activities lined up and the dedicated work by volunteers, I would have to say, YOU BET THEY DO!

Join in the neighborhood camaraderie and enjoy "smack your lips and come back for more" food. Kids can take part in games to win specially selected prizes. Attendees will be hoping that their name is drawn for one of the many great gift certificates. Residents can meet some of our local "celebs" - members of the police and fire departments and other special guests. Plus, we?’ll have new "twists" for our party entertainment. This year we will have a huge contraption called a Moonwalk! The kids will love it

Once again, we?’ll be taking Polaroid snap shots to be used with Kidcare ID Kits. If you had your child?’s photo taken last year, you can update your packet with a new photo. What a difference a year makes!

All this begins Tuesday, August 3rd in the Mercer Place Cul-de-Sac at 6:30 PM and ends at approximately 8:30 PM. Parking along Mercer can be tight. Therefore, if you can, please walk or carpool. We do need time to set-up. Tempting as it may be, please do not arrive before 6:30. If you do, come prepared to help! It?’s still not too late to volunteer: Call the Voice Mail! -Judy Hall, CLFNA President

CAN WE ENTICE YOU EVEN MORE TO ATTEND?

ALL NEIGHBORS ARE INVITED (KIDS INCLUDED, OF COURSE!) AND

IT?’S ALL FREE!

SHOW ME THE MONEY!

You?’ll be shown lots of money if you participate in our Fourth Annual Fall Festival Sale on Saturday, October 9th. With the holidays right around the corner, it will be the perfect time to make those gift and extra expense dollars.

It?’s easy to participate. Just have a garage, bake, craft, or food sale (or any combination you want) on October 9th from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. In exchange for 10% of your sale?’s receipts, the CLFNA will provide all the publicity. This includes a flyer of the sale locations distributed to the neighborhood and cooperating area merchants, ads in various newspapers, area entrance sign announcements and a special Fall Festival sign for your yard.

We generally average about thirty sales. That means a lot of buying traffic. October can be rainy (as we learned last year.) In case of rain on the 9th, the Fall Festival will be on the following Saturday, the 16th.

Call the Voice Mail (214-967-5076) now to register your sale. We?’ll supply you with all the details. With your help, this will be another great fund raising event to benefit your neighborhood!
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SINGING OUT FOR NEIGHBORHOOD HEROES!

GERHARD SCHUTTGER- Gerhard and his wife, Jerene (also a great volunteer) are long time area residents. Gerhard is the designer and a major worker and maintainer of the Westglen and Mercer Entrances. He is also a Crime Watch section coordinator/block captain, walks flyers and participates in many neighborhood projects.

JOHN, BETTE & RACHEL STANFORD - This is truly a family affair. John provided the know-how and work for the Mercer sprinkler system. Bette and Rachel, their daughter, contribute baked goods and delivery for the Welcome Wagon. All are always ready to work as needed, including walking out flyers in a real ?‘test of legs ?‘ section of our neighborhood.

DON MOORE - The postman for most of our area, Don keeps us informed of new neighbors and vacancies which is invaluable for our newsletter mailings and the Welcome Wagon. Although not a neighbor, Don is still committed to our neighborhood efforts.

THESE ARE BUT A FEW OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HEROES. Call the Voice Mail to nominate others. Let?’s give a spotlight to our super neighborhood volunteers. They make our neighborhood a much better place! Good neighbors certainly do make a difference
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BOARD BITS

ELECTION OF ASSOCIATION OFFICERS/BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The election will take place at the General Association meeting in either late October or November. If you?’d like to place your name or the name of someone else (with their approval, of course,) in nomination, please leave a message with the Voice Mail.

If you would like to serve on the nomination committee, please let us know. Although it doesn?’t require a great deal of time, it?’s very important. Again, call the Voice Mail (214-967-5076).

BYLAWS AMENDMENT PASSES

At the May 13th Association meeting, a majority vote by attendees passed a bylaws amendment which deletes the prorated (May-October) membership fee of $5. Beginning November 1st, 1999, all memberships will be the annual rate of $10.
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VOICE MAIL

CONCERNS FROM NEIGHBORS

Dogs off leashes or let out on their own and "using" their neighbors?’ yards.

Mowing at near the break of dawn, especially on weekends.

Loud late night noise.

All these concerns involve consideration for your neighbors. Be a good neighbor and think before you act!

Neighbor problems? Sometimes communication can work wonders!
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OUR URBAN FOREST

At our May 13th General CLFNA and spring social get-together, Michael Hellmann, a City arborist, advised the many attendees that our urban forest, while in good shape, does have a lot of aging trees. Consequently, to maintain one of our area?’s greatest assets, the time is now to begin replanting. Healthy forested areas need three different levels of canopies - small, medium, and large growth trees.

You can call (214-948-4480) to speak with a City arborist about your specific tree questions and concerns.

WHY ARE TREES SO IMPORTANT?

Trees conserve energy, reduce pollution, conserve water, provide wildlife habitat, increase property values, and beautify urban environments. Few things are as hard working as our trees. Consider their benefits and then take steps to help them continue their work.
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ARE YOU PATRIOTIC?

In the 40?’s during World War II, we were all encouraged to reuse a lot of things that could be used in the war effort that normally would be thrown out or burned. We were, therefore, asked to bring our newspapers, metal cans, bottles, and tin foil, etc. to neighborhood Collection Centers which would forward it to the appropriate agency for reuse in the wartime material shortage.

It was the patriotic thing to do!

Today, we do not have the extreme material shortage as in the 40?’s, but we do have more cost in using virgin material in many cases. We are also running out of landfill space for our garbage, with 80% closing in 15 to 20 years. We should be concerned for our environment and the future environment of our children.

So folks, we need to get more interested and involved in recycling. We have available to us today very convenient places to dispose of our recyclable items, which takes very little effort. The City has special trucks (for which we are already paying) that go through our neighborhood every Monday, picking up newspapers (in brown paper bags), steel cans, aluminum cans and plastic containers that are marked on the bottom with numbers 1,2, or 3 enclosed in the recycle symbol. These can be put in plastic grocery bags for pickup, when positioned next to your regular garbage cart. Newspapers, magazines, junk mail, and flattened cardboard boxes can also be taken to any green and yellow dumpsters located at many schools and church parking lots, where each organization receives a percentage of money earned by its sale. Things like glass bottles (clear and colored) and aluminum cans can be taken to the recycle igloos located at Harry Stone Park, White Rock spillway at Garland Road, and at Norbuck Park near the SE corner of the intersection of Northwest Highway and Buckner Blvd. Then, there is the plastic grocery bag itself for which many grocery stores provide drop-off barrels.

We can all have a better environment and you will feel good about helping if you do your part to recycle!
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"There is nothing in untouched nature to compare with our extravagant use of energy and our failure to recycle essential materials." Bulletin of Atomic Scientists

-by Gerhard Schuttger

AREA BIKE TRAILS OFFER SPLENDID SITES

We are fortunate to live in an interesting and diverse neighborhood which provides us with ready bike routes. Our immediate Casa Linda Forest area includes rolling hills, a couple of challenging hills, and some relatively flat terrain, while allowing us to admire a variety of architecture, brick design, landscaping, and nature. A quick trip through the streets within CLFNA provides about 20 minutes of exercise as well as an opportunity to see what?’s going on in the neighborhood. Added bonuses to biking throughout CLFNA streets are large shade trees and creeks which makes for a cooler bike ride than in other areas, and perhaps meeting a neighbor or two.

Should you find the desire to venture outside our beautiful streets, this route suggestion is relatively flat, free from busy traffic, yet diverse, and possibly, utilitarian. Starting at the Mercer Street Bridge, pedal up the Mercer hill to the light at Buckner (this is the hardest part of the route; or skip this part and begin at the Mercer Street entrance). Cross Buckner at the light, and follow Mercer past Gaston School. Turn left on Mariposa and cross the train tracks. If you stay off Hermosa, which has steady traffic, you can pedal throughout this neighborhood without ever seeing a car. Some sculptors live on Selva near Garland Road, and usually have life size figures in their yard.

Those who need to shop at Casa Linda Plaza, should turn west on Losa to shop. To return home via another route, cross Buckner at the light at Casa Linda Plaza or at Hermosa. pedal past the "ranchette" houses on Bella Vista and Redondo. Head back home by Casa Linda Park to Old Gate. Going south on Old Gate and west on Eustis, you will see a wide variety of homes, some uniquely cared for and some just unique. If you take Groveland to Tavoros, the home on the northwest corner has unusual and artistic yard art. Actually, the Little Forest Hills neighborhood has an extensive variety of yard art. Head downhill on Eustis to Lakeland. Be very careful entering Lakeland, crossing the tracks, and biking the remaining distance between Eustis and Westglen. You are now back within CLFNA and can head for home. People who need more exercise should challenge their biking buddy to a race up the Mercer Hill-that?’ll wear you out!

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Casa Linda Forest

Neighborhood Association

9029 Vinewood

Dallas, TX 75228
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CLFNA General Meeting

Annual Night-Out Against Crime

Mercer Place Cul-de-Sac

Time: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

All neighbors and kids welcome!

All

Second Saturday Shoreline Spruce-Up

Saturday, August 14 @ 10 AM

Meet in the Parking Lot

(Garland Rd & Winstead)

Mail To:

CLFNA MEMBERSHIP FORM - 1999

NAME

ADDRESS

WORK PHONE

HOME PHONE

OCCUPATION (OPTIONAL)

I WOULD LIKE TO SERVE ON THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEE(S) (Please circle)

Communications (Newsletter) * Government Affairs * Beautification * Membership Activities

Safety & Neighborhood Crime Watch * Public Schools Committee * Welcome Wagon Crew

Please clip and mail this form to CLFNA, 9114 Westglen, Dallas, TX 75228 along with a check made out to CLFNA for $5.00 (May-Oct 31, 1999).

A FAREWELL TO SPRING

By now, the Home and Garden Tour and Bake Sale has faded to a memory beneath these long, hot days of summer. Hopefully, the change of seasons will spark the memory next year and we will have members who are eager to try again. The planning revolved around the eager participants who opened their doors to their neighbors and friends.

The Bake Sale was brought to you by the many Welcome Wagon members who stepped in as needed. The list is impressive! If you weren?’t able to purchase their goodies, you?’ll have a chance to sample their wares and those of other great area bakers for free, during the August 3rd National Night-Out Against Crime. Don?’t miss the CLFNA biggest event of the year!

The photos you see throughout this newsletter are of some of those neighbors who graciously opened their homes during the Home and Garden Tour. Enjoy, and thanks to everyone!

FREE SMOKE DETECTORS

The Dallas Fire Department will install a free smoke detector in homes within the Dallas city limits. Apartments are ineligible.

The major objective of the program is to provide smoke detectors to all homes, but especially to persons who are unable to afford them. For details call: Smoke Detector Hotline : 214-670-7016

CRIME WATCH

So, you say you?’re really glad that your neighborhood has little crime and that you know enough of what goes on around you? Well, this feeling of well being is made possible by watchful and concerned neighbors who stay alert to their immediate surroundings. Just knowing those who live in front of, behind, and to the sides of you can really make a difference. If it sounds simple...it is! And that?’s what Block Captains do, but we still need a few more pairs of eyes in the following areas:

Section 1 A. 9016-9056 Westbriar &

Sweetbriar

Section 2 B. 9036-9331 Mercer

G. 9419-9460 Springwater

Section 3 E. 9334-9357 Creek Creek

Section 5 C. 9116-9151 Vinewood

Section 6 D. 2240-2261 & 2265,2271 Springhill

E. Even #?’s 2264-2334 Springhill

-Also , we need a Section Coordinator for Section 2. Call the Voice Mail to help! 214-967-5076