The Lakewood Heights Neighborhood Association (LHNA) General Meeting is next Thursday, March 18^th, 7 pm at Times Ten Cellars.

This is the annual membership meeting to kick-off the LHNA year and to elect our Officers and Street Representatives.  Come to the meeting so you can renew your membership and support our neighborhood. Also, if you’re interested in being an officer or street representative, now is your time to run!

If you cannot make the meeting, please renew your membership. You can do it online! Renew or Join. Your membership is important to your Lakewood Heights neighborhood. Go here to learn more.

Do you have a great idea for a neighborhood project?
Our Guest Speaker is Pame’La Ashford, our City of Dallas Service Area Representative, a fun and lively presenter who will bring us information about the city grant program for neighborhood improvement projects.  Come Thursday so that we can discuss ideas and consider applying as a neighborhood for one of the grants!

Come meet your neighbors and enjoy a good time with the neighborhood at Times Ten Cellars (6324 Prospect Avenue)!

Lakewood Heights neighbor Allen Vaught is an Iraq war veteran who serves in the Texas House of Representatives. You’ll have a chance to see Rep. Vaught on the big screen since he has a small part in the movie Green Zone which releases in theaters Friday, March 12, 2010.

Green Zone is directed by Paul Greengrass, whose works include other films such as The Bourne Ultimatum, United 93 and The Bourne Supremacy. The cast includes Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear, Amy Ryan and Jason Isaacs.

Rep. Allen Vaught (left) as Captain Jonathan Vaught

Rep. Vaught said of the movie, “It was a great honor to have a small part in the Green Zone. I have not seen the entire film, but I expect it will be a great tribute to veterans of the Iraq War. I applaud Paul Greengrass for incorporating so many Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans in the film.”

Vaught continued, “While my character is completely fictional and has nothing to do with who I was as a soldier, or my actual role in the Iraq War, Paul did let me name my character after my son, Jonathan Vaught. That was very special to me and something that I hope Jonathan will appreciate when he is a few years older. Our daughter Morgan was born after filming, so we might have a problem there unless there is a sequel.”

Vaught served as a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve’s Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command. He saw combat operations in Fallujah and Sadr City in 2003 and 2004. Vaught was the de facto mayor of Fallujah during the early months of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was eventually injured in a roadside bomb in Sadr City and discharged from the Army. His commendations include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Badge and Valorous Unit Award.

Rep. Vaught currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Defense and Veterans’ Affairs. First elected in 2006, he represents areas of East Dallas including Lakewood, Lake Highlands, Garland and Mesquite.

You may have received a fancy, bilingual door hanger telling you that in March, the City of Dallas would be collecting your trash once a week. It looks like MONDAY is the day sanitation department will pick up both your trash and recycling. If you’ve just discovered recycling or have questions, visit Green Dallas.

Bye-bye convenient 2X weekly collection of trash. Hello 1 stop each week. However, we’re told you will save $0.64 a month on your sanitation services bill because of this. Don’t hold us to it.

Questions about once a week pickup? Visit www.onedaydallas.com or call 311.

Bulk trash collection will still be 1X month.  Lakewood Heights is on the WEEK 3  schedule.  As a reminder, place bulk trash behind your curbline from 7 a.m. on the Thursday before your collection week through 7 a.m. Monday of your collection week.  Ignore these rules and face a code enforcement fine of up to $2000. Ouch!

Bulk trash = large limbs, shrubs, bagged leaves (in sealed 50 gallon or smaller bags), furniture, appliances, mattresses/box springs. Separate your yard waste from other trash.

2010 Bulk Trash Collection Dates
(For the week starting:)

• March 15
• April 19
• June 21
• July 19
• August 16
• September 20
• October 18
• November 15
• December 20

The Dallas Police Department and Lakewood Crime Watch/Lakewood Neighborhood Association will be presenting Personal Protection for Women and Girls on Tuesday, March 2, from 7:00 to 8:30 at Lakewood Country Club.

Most snow in more than 100 years

New Lakewood Heights resident

Snowy Tietze Park

early friday morning in Lakewood Heights

LHNA neighbor Carey Moseley with daughter Samantha

Deep Snow!

More photos at Dallas Morning News

Starting in March 2010, Lakewood Heights residents will have all garbage and recycling collected on the same day – once a week. Other parts of Dallas are already in the One Day program. In addition to the obvious benefit of saving the City money, the program also is eco-friendly because it encourages (and actually increases!) recycling.

To help educate residents on the benefits of the new 1X weekly program, the City of Dallas has created a website (One Day Dallas) and plans to hold informational meetings throughout Dallas. Meetings closest to Lakewood Heights are scheduled as follows:

Monday, January 11, 2010 – 6:30 pm
St. Thomas Aquinas Church
6306 Kenwood

Tuesday, January 12, 2010 – 6:30 pm
Stonewall Jackson Elementary
5828 East Mockingbird Lane

Thursday, January 21, 2010 – 6:30 pm
Lakewood Branch Library
6121 Worth Street

If you think it’s cold today, just wait until Thursday, when, according to the weather forecasts, the temperatures will be dipping down into the teens. The City of Dallas Office of Emergency Management encourages Dallas residents to “begin preparations for sub-freezing weather,” and provided a link to the What2do website. Here are some of their tips to prepare for the frosty weather:

Winter Weather Safety Tips

• Wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing instead of one heavy layer of clothing. Make sure that outer garments are water-repellent.
• Ensure that your heating source is working properly and well ventilated. Have it serviced regularly.
• Avoid driving on overpasses and bridges—they often freeze more quickly than roads.
• Winterize your car. Flush the cooling system, replace the coolant, replace the wiper blades, etc. Create a Winter Weather Kit in case you’re stranded.
• Winterize your pipes. Keep faucets dripping when the temperature drops below freezing.
• Take extra precautions to ensure the wellbeing of your animals by providing plenty of water and food, as well as appropriate shelter (which means: keep them inside!)

See more emergency tips at the What2do website.
City of Dallas Office of Emergency Management Facebook Page

Santa’s elves brought snow on December 24 to deliver Lakewood Heights first “White Christmas” in more than eighty (80!) years. Stories and photos from the Dallas Morning News website:

Dallas Area Snow a Record for Christmas Eve (Dallas Morning News)
Many North Texans take advantage of a rare white Christmas (Dallas Morning News)

Recycle your Christmas tree and get free mulch! Remove all ornaments, lights, tinsel, stands and drop off at one of five convenient City of Dallas locations.  Christmas tree recycling program from December 28, 2009 to January  15, 2010 (9am to 4pm). For Lakewood Heights residents, the closest location is Flag Pole Hill (map link) at Northwest Highway and Buckner.

Free mulch can be picked up at the McCommas Bluff Landfill and the Bachman Transfer station. Bring your shovel and container (more details here).

Don’t forget to recycle your Christmas greetings cards, wrapping paper, gift bags, cardboard boxes (no styrofoam) tissue paper and your holiday party items such as aluminum cans, plastic and glass bottles.

A Christmas Coffeehouse benefiting the Interfaith Housing Coalition will be December 20 at 4:00 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.  Performers include blues and jazz ensemble Next Level, cellist Francesco Matromatteo, and SMU vocalists Madelyn Fortner, Damon Clark and John Campione.

Interfaith Housing is an East Dallas organization that helps families with children transform their lives from poverty and homelessness to self sufficiency.  Bring any new kitchen or household goods such as dishtowels, serving utensils, silverware, cups, plates, pans, small appliances, linens, towels, and pillows.

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church is located at 3204 Skillman at Monticello. For more information, call 214 821-9989 or go to www.standrewsdallas.org.