Two kinds of pests are on the prowl in Lakewood Heights these days: mosquitoes and thieves.

We talked about ways to deter mosquitoes in a recent post, but didn’t mention one of our very best skeeter repellers – a simple house fan. A recent New York Times article agrees that keeping the wind moving outside with a portable fan can make pests bug off. Give it a shot!

We have had reports of activity by even pestier pests – criminals – in our neighborhood. The highest incidence of crime noted is burglary of a motor vehicle (BMV). The Dallas Police Department website has great flyer: Crime Prevention Tips – Preventing Burglary of a Motor Vehicle. Basically, to prevent your vehicle from being broken into, TAKE, LOCK and HIDE.

Lock Your Vehicle. Breaking glass makes noise so locking your vehicle makes it tougher.

Hide any Valuables – or better yet Take valuables with you. Don’t leave anything in the vehicle to encourage a criminal to steal from you.  Laptops, Purses, GPS, iPods, Cell Phones are all magnets for hoodlums who want to steal from you.

Also, parking in a well lit area may also help. If you are unfortunate enough to be a victim of crime, be sure to call 911 immediately to report it to the Dallas Police Dept.

Mosquito season has arrived in Lakewood Heights. Although it is tempting to “nuke” your yard with a chemical cocktail, why not try some organic methods first. The first thing you should do is make sure you have no standing water. Check your gutters, french drains, flower pot saucers, old tires, even a soda can – anything that can hold water is a source for a mosquito breeding farm! Add Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis – often sold under the name Mosquito Dunks) to places, such as bird baths, where you mean to have water.

Lakewood’s Howard Garrett (aka The Dirt Doctor) is a great resource for natural organic gardening and living tips. His mosquito control newsletter offers solutions for both personal treatment (check out his recipe for the Vanilla mix repellent) and for site treatment. We have had luck using the dry granulated garlic he suggests spreading in the yard to repel mosquitoes. I know other neighbors who have success using Dr. T’s Mosquito Repelling Granules.

Using natural methods will repel the pesty mosquitoes, but not kill every single living organism in your yard. Remember, there are lots of beneficial insects like dragonflies – who eat mosquitoes!

Early voting for the April 13 runoff election, for both the Democrat and Republican party primaries, starts April 5. Click here to access the Dallas County Elections website, where you will find Early Voting dates, places and times, as well as Election day polling places and sample ballots.

Democrats will be nominating 2 District Judges, 2 Criminal Court Judges, a Probate Court Judge and County Judge

Republicans will decide their nominee for US Representative (District 30) and Supreme Court Justice, Place 3.

The Lakewood Heights Herald is published by the Lakewood Heights Neighborhood Association (LHNA). Here’s a quick preview of what you’ll find in the current Lakewood Heights Herald:

• LHNA Neighborhood Meeting – March 18, 2010 at Times Ten Cellars from 7:00 – 8:00 pm. More information here or read the newsletter!
• Changing of the Guard – After six years of tireless effort as LHNA President, Melanie Vanlandingham is stepping down. Come to the neighborhood meeting to say thanks to Melanie for all her efforts.
• Neighborhood Garage Sale – Read the Herald to learn more about the Lakewood Heights Neighborhood garage sale.
• Bulk Trash Schedule, 2010 Calendar of Neighborhood Events, Membership Information and more!

March 2010

We will archive newsletters here.

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

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