New neighborhood associations are popping up throughout our neighborhood.
Recently, four new groups were formed to address such issues as crime, education, DART light rail, code enforcement, zoning and traffic.
“Most neighborhood associations form around an issue,” says Catherine Horsey, executive director of Preservation Dallas, which helped form the new associations.
“Part of it is that they (neighbors) see things happening that they want to have a voice in.”
Neighborhood associations also provide social outlets and reduce crime by familiarizing neighbors with each other, Horsey says.
The new groups are:
• Ridgewood Park Neighborhood Association. This association, which first met in May, represents about 400 households. The boundaries are Abrams, Fisher, Lovers and the old MKT railroad tracks. Main issues include DART’s northeast light rail line to Garland and boundary changes and overcrowding at Dan D. Rogers Elementary.
On the steering committee are Susan Edgley, Clairene Herold, Connie LaLumia, Julie Nunez, and Chuck and Desiree Schorn. Dues are $12 a year. Call 368-7170 for information.
• Caruth Terrace Neighborhood Association. This association, which first met in June, represents about 375 households. The boundaries are the old MKT railroad tracks, Abrams, Mockingbird and Skillman. A main issue is DART’s northeast light rail line. On the steering committee are Amelie Bargas, Gordon Van Amburgh, Diana Heyde, Jill Shipman, Sue Townsend, Ruth and Charley Shirley, Kim Westerbeck and Tim Clarkson. Dues are $12 a year. Call 821-9225 for information.
• North Stonewall Terrace Neighborhood Association. This association has evolved out of a crime watch group formed last fall by Katherine Hall. The group, which represents about 300 households, held its first meeting as a neighborhood association last month. The boundaries are the old MKT railroad tracks, Skillman, Mockingbird and Matilda.
A main issue is DART’s northeast light rail line. On the steering committee are Nancy Parish, Desiree Courtney, Marsha Dekan and Frances Whiteside. Dues are $10 a year with a discount for senior citizens. Call 823-3873 for information.
• Glencoe Park Neighborhood Association. This association, which represents about 1,200 households, held its first meeting last fall. The boundaries are Central Expressway, Mockingbird, Greenville and Martel. Main issues include closure of certain “M” streets and the possibility of a soundwall along Central.
Officers elected this spring include Laura Watters, president; Jan Bufford, vice president of administration; Jeanne Prejean, vice president of communications; Lisa Rose Tschopp, vice president of safety and neighborhood services; Lisa Bautz, secretary; and Jean Hayes, treasurer.
On the board of directors are Bill Cox and Ron Walenta. Dues are $25 with a discount for senior citizens. Call Prejean at 522-4392 for information.
Preservation Dallas, 2922 Swiss, helps new associations establish by-laws and goals, publish newsletters and organize initial meetings.
If you are interested in organizing, call Preservation Dallas at 821-3290.
News & Notes
LAKE LOVERS MEET JULY 8: For the Love of the Lake, a neighborhood nonprofit group supporting beautification and upkeep of White Rock Lake, meets July 8 at 7 p.m. at Marci Novak’s house. Call 622-SAVE for directions. The group recently was appointed by City Councilwoman Mary Poss to the citizens advisory committee working with City engineers on the lake dredging project. Vickie McDonald is representing the group. The group also has joined the Dallas County Corporate Recycling Council.
MAGAZINE PUBLISHER HONORED FOR ATTACK ON GANGS: Del Hendrixson, the publisher of “Bajito Ondo” (“Low Rider”) magazine, was among 13 people who received the JCPenney Gold Rule Award last month. Hendrixson was honored for her work to help at-risk teens leave and stay out of gangs. Hendrixson’s magazine promotes nonviolent living and presents the tragic consequences of gang life. Hendrixson was awarded a $1,000 grant for her publication.
RIDGEWOOD RECREATION CENTER RENAMED: The Ridgewood Recreation Center, 6818 Fisher, has been renamed the Ridgewood/Belcher Recreation center in honor of Virginia T. Belcher, a neighborhood resident for 30 years. Belcher was instrumental in building the center, going door-to-door to solicit support for it in an effort to provide juveniles with supervised activities. She was recognized in a dedication ceremony last month, which also celebrated the expansion of the center’s gymnasium.
LAKEWOOD HOMEOWNERS MEET JULY 9: The Lakewood Homeowners Association meets July 9 at 7:30 p.m. for its quarterly business meeting at the Lakewood Country Club, Gaston and Abrams. For information, call Susan Falvo at 720-1883.
GARDENING EXPERT SPEAKS TO CHAMBER: The Lakewood Chamber of Commerce meets July 9 at noon at the Lakewood Country Club, Gaston and Abrams. The guest speaker is English gardening expert Patrick Butterworth. Cost is $15 and includes lunch. The public is welcome. Call 827-8921 for reservations.
CUNNINGHAM HONORED FOR SERVICE: Neighborhood resident Bill “Bulldog” Cunningham has earned the Farmers Insurance Group’s highest honor for district managers and agents – membership in Farmers’ Presidents Council. Only a small percentage of the more than 14,500 district managers and agents for Farmers throughout the nation attain this membership, which recognizes outstanding customer service.