Cut in Code Compliance Budget

September 22, 2005


To: All Homeowner Associations & Crime Watch Groups

Please contact Mary Suhm and request/demand that $300,000.00 not be removed from the budget for the Department of Code Compliance. Funding for this department is critical to the ability to monitor and correct substandard conditions in apartments and other properties in Lake Highlands. You may contact Ms. Suhm at her email address: mailto:mary.suhm@dallascityhall.com. Phone Number: 214-670-4509.

Thank you for your help, and please spread the word.

Sincerely,


Stephen N. Wakefield
President--Lake Highlands Area Improvement Association

Doc's Food Store - Illegal Pornography Hearing

NOTICE TO THE LAKE HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY:

On Wednesday September 28th there will be a hearing downtown regarding Doc's Food Store's (SE corner of Forest and Abrams) recent citation for obscene display of pornography. In the past six months Doc's has also been cited for violations of city and federal laws including illegal gambling and health code violations. They have been a public nuisance for years.

The property owners have chosen to ignore this illegal activity and to allow Doc's to continue to operate in our community. Our elected officials need to understand that there is significant community interest in seeing that Doc's is held accountable for their flagrant irresponsibility in abiding by city and federal laws.

Please join other Lake Highlands residents at this hearing to make a statement that businesses such as Doc's are not tolerated by our community. Please let Sandy Laber know if you are able to attend by emailing her at kslaber@aol.com

The hearing details are as follows:
September 28th 8:30a.m
Court #5
Dallas Municipal Building
106 South Harwood
Dallas, TX 75202

New Shopping Center Breakiing Ground on Friday

ATTENTION HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS & CRIME WATCH MEMBERS:

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND PLAN TO ATTEND A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY AT THE OLD KINGSLEY SQUARE SHOPPING CENTER, ON THE NW CORNER OF WALNUT HILL AND SKILLMAN.

THE CEREMONY BEGINS AT 10:00 AM, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2005.

PLEASE COME. WE WANT THIS DEVELOPER TO SEE THAT WE SUPPORT THIS PROJECT.

COUNCILMEMBER BILL BLAYDES

Katrina's Victims with No Voice

Everyone has no doubt seen the devastating pictures from New Orleans and Gulfport and seen the countless people that need help. There is another group that needs our help just as much. The animals and pets that have no way of asking for help need that help now. Thousands of animals are now ownerless, homeless, hungry and sick and the only way to help them is by donating to the organizations set up to handle disasters such as this. Please go to Humane Society of the United States where you can make a contribution and help these animals find safety and medical attention when needed. Whatever donation you can make would be greatly appreciated not only by the animals themselves but by the owners that were forced to leave them behind. Thank you in advance for your help!

Back to School Safety Tips

These back-to-school safety tips were distributed by the police department.

There are many things that we already know, but a quick refresher is always helpful!

Getting There:

• Map out with your children a safe way for them to walk to school or to the bus stop. Avoid busy roads and intersections. Do a trial run with them to point out places they should avoid along the way, such as vacant lots, construction areas, and parks where there aren't many people.
• Teach children to follow traffic signals and rules when walking or biking. Stress that they should cross the street at crosswalks or intersections with crossing guards when they can.- Encourage children to walk to school or the bus stop with a sibling or friend, and to wait at bus stops with other children.
• Teach children not to talk to strangers, go anywhere with them, or accept gifts from them without your permission. Tell them that if they see a suspicious stranger hanging around r in their school they should tell an adult.
• Help children memorize their phone number and full address, including area code and zip code. Write down other important phone numbers such as your work and cell phone on a card for your children to carry with them.

After School

Do your children stay home alone for a few hours after school while you are at work? You can still look out for them and help keep them safe:

• Have your children check in with you or another adult as soon as they get home from school.
• Help your children practice locking and unlocking doors and windows.
• Role-play different situations that might come up when children are home alone. For example, what should your children do if a stranger knocks on the door, if the phone rings, or if there's an emergency?
• Tell your children what you expect them to do when home alone. Should they finish their homework before watching TV? Are they allowed to fix a snack, or use the stove? What about inviting friends over?
• Find a safe house in your neighborhood that your children can go to if they need help right away. If you are home during the day, think of starting your own safe house for neighborhood children.