City Connections - February Edition

Lock, Take and Hide Program

HVPD actively supports the "Lock, Take and Hide" Program designed to teach citizens to properly secure their valuables and not make their vehicle an easy target for crime while at home, work or shopping. 

Stop! Take 3 to See

STOP! TAKE 3 TO SEE is an HVPD cooperative campaign designed to educate motorists about the correct way to observe STOP signs. The steps are as follows:

1. Come to a full and complete stop.
2. Look left.
3. Look right.
4. Look left again to make sure all is clear before proceeding.
5. Thus, STOP! TAKE 3 TO SEE.

Stop Sign Data

The National Safe Kids Campaign in partnership with FedEx Express conducted a study on observance of Stop Signs. In part, the findings include:

• Of vehicles surveyed, more than a third (37 percent) of motorists rolled through stop signs at intersections and nearly a tenth (7 percent) of motorists did not even slow down before the stop sign.
• At intersections with marked crosswalks, one quarter (25 percent) of vehicles stopped in or past the crosswalks.
• When only child pedestrians were present, nearly a third (32 percent) of motorists violated the stop signs.
• At intersections where pedestrians were crossing, nearly a quarter (24 percent) of drivers did not come to a complete stop. 

• The report further states that, “Each year, stop sign violations are associated with approximately 200 fatal crashes and 17,000 non-fatal injury crashes. Children are at risk of injury when stop sign and pedestrian right-of-way laws are violated.”

STOP! TAKE 3 TO SEE® is a trademark of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25, a Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization,

P.O. Box 45563 Omaha, Nebraska, 68145

used with permission. No other entities may use this mark without prior permission. For information, please call 402-334-1391.

  

Save a Life – Learn CPR

The Highland Village Fire Department conducts monthly CPR and Health Care Provider courses. This training covers Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Adults, Infants and Children and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training.

Upcoming Class Dates:  Thursday, February 5, 6-9 PM    ~     Thursday, March 12, 6-9 PM

CPR Costs: $25 for residents, $45 for non-residents ~ HC Provider Costs:  $35 for residents, $55 for non-residents. A form of ID is required for address verification.  Class size is limited; please contact Highland Village Fire Department at 972-317-0890 to sign-up.

Garbage, Recycling and Yard Waste Collection UPDATE

Please Remember:

• Garbage and Recycle materials need to be at your curb by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day.
• Recycle carts – In some areas of the City,  Waste Management has begun using the automated recycle trucks that can pickup the recycle carts with mechanical arms. The recycle carts should be placed at curbside on your lawn with the opening of the cart facing the street.
• DO NOT use plastic bags for YARD WASTE, as they are not biodegradable.
• Yard Waste is collected on Monday.  Bundle your brush, grass, yard trimmings, and leaves in either “Kraft” brown paper bags or open containers.  Brush and limbs must be bundled in lengths of 4 ft. or less and weigh 40 lbs. or less.

The Coldest Time of the Year is Here

The Utility Division provides 24-hour emergency service.  If you do not have your own water cut off valve, keep your meter box uncovered and maintained for City crew easy access.  We ask that you call and report any unusual circumstances that may need our attention.  Please do not hesitate to call us.  The Utility Operations office number is 972-317-2989.  After hours, please call the emergency telephone number 972-317-6551.  If you have a billing question, please contact Utility billing at 972-899-5090.

Here are a few tips to assist you during the winter to help prevent frozen water pipes.

1. Be sure to disconnect all outside water hoses from the pipe it is connected to.  This will prevent an overnight freeze from bursting either the faucet or the pipe.
2. Insulate pipes or faucets in unheated areas with pipe wrapping materials that are available from any hardware store.
3. Any plumbing inside your home that faces an outside wall should be considered during the winter months.  To prevent these pipes from freezing, open the cabinets to expose the pipes to the warm air inside your home.

Disposing Of Pharmaceuticals And Personal Care Products - What Do I Do?

In order to help keep the environment safe it is recommended that the best and most cost-effective way to ensure safe water at the tap is to keep our source waters clean.  As a society, we should encourage policies that protect source water from contaminants introduced by human activity.  You can help by refraining from flushing unused medications down the toilet or sink.  Instead, find out if your pharmacy accepts medications for disposal, or contact the local health department for information about proper disposal of medications, cleaning products, pesticides, and automotive products.  

Pre-Emergent Organic Herbicides

Late winter and spring will bring a new growing season requiring lawn maintenance and proper application of fertilizers and herbicides.  Improper application of lawn care chemicals can result in the pollution of stormwater, which flows untreated through storm drains into the nearest water body.  High levels of herbicides in a water body can kill the aquatic plants and animals, and make the water unsafe for humans.  Reduce stormwater pollution by using organic alternatives.  For example, pre-emergent organic herbicides prevent seeds from establishing roots; seeds cannot grow without roots.  By using pre-emergent organic herbicides, you prevent weeds from growing and prevent toxic chemicals found in traditional herbicides from entering storm drains.  The time to apply pre-emergent organic herbicides is in February and March.

Help prevent stormwater pollution by:

• Following the manufacturer’s directions when using any lawn care products.
• Avoid applying lawn care products on windy days.
• Avoid applying lawn care products 24 hours before a heavy rain.
• Purchasing organic herbicides, and other organic products from your local nursery and hardware stores.

DCTA Announces Changes to Highland Village Route

DCTA staff has recently undertaken a comprehensive review of all DCTA routes to identify ways to improve our current service, as well as to prepare our route network for the arrival of A-train rail service in December 2010. 

Based on our review of Lewisville and Highland Village routes, DCTA staff has developed a number of modifications to restructure the existing route network in these cities.  The goal of the proposed Service Improvement Plan is to provide the most service where and when it is needed most. Among the changes being proposed are:

• Realigning Lewisville service to create three routes, rather than the two routes currently being provided in Lewisville.
• Replacing fixed-route service in North Lewisville and Highland Village with Connect RSVP (see details below).
• Serving the Lewisville Senior Center with On-Demand (see details below).
• Redesigning all bus stop signs.
• Installing benches and shelters at select locations.

Connect RSVP (serving North Lewisville & Highland Village)

 

Connect RSVP is a new peak period service for areas not typically served by traditional fixed-routes.  With this service, passengers within the Connect RSVP designated zone may request a trip Monday-Friday 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Passengers wishing to travel to/from/within the Connect RSVP zone are asked to reserve their trip a day in advance by calling DCTA Operations at 940-243-0077. Curb-to-curb service will be provided within the designated zone or connections to the fixed-route will be provided for trips outside of the designated zones.

Connect On-Demand (serving the Lewisville Senior Center)

Connect On-Demand will provide service to the Lewisville Senior Center upon request.  If a passenger is on Connect Route 21, he/she may request service to the Lewisville Senior Center between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.  If no request is made, the Connect bus will not serve the Senior Center.  If a passenger is at the Senior Center, they may call DCTA Operations at 940-243-0077 to request a pickup from the Senior Center by the next available Route 21 bus (same hours as noted above apply).

For more details regarding these proposed service modifications, please visit dcta.net. If you have questions or would like to provide feedback prior to February 25th you can contact Boris Palchik, Senior Planner, at 972-221-4600 or through e-mail at bpalchik@dcta.net.

Father and Daughter Valentine’s Dance

Father and Daughter Valentine's Dance at Celebrations
Friday, February 13, 2009 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 
Residents - $18 Non-Residents - $21

Come enjoy dinner and a rose, dancing and door prizes.
Space is limited
Dress Semi-Formal

Music provided by Mobile Music PBP
Register at the Parks and Recreation Department at the Municipal Complex

Feel free to contact the Parks and Recreation Department with any questions at 972-317-7430

Senior All Stars Choctaw Casino Trip

Wednesday, February 25, 2009. Sign-Up NOW! Space is limited; sign up by February 18, 2009. Cost is $5, includes $10 Casino play money, $10 Black Jack play money and a $5 food coupon. Register at the Parks and Recreation Department at the Municipal Complex. The bus leaves from the City of Highland Village Municipal Complex, 1000 Highland Village Road, at 9:00 a.m. and leaves Choctaw at 4:00 p.m. Feel free to contact the Parks and Recreation Department for more information at 972 317-7430. Can’t make it this time? Next trip to Choctaw is March 25, 2009

Senior All-Stars Putt-Putt Golf League

Come out and join the new putt-putt golf league! Play at the Texas Twister at FM 407 and Summit Avenue. The cost is $25; this includes seven weeks of play. March 20th - May 8th, no league play on April 10th Please call Cheryl at 469-446-2858 for more information.

Senior All Stars Book Club

Barnes & Noble in the Shops at Highland Village
On the first Wednesday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to noon

March’s Book - Author Andrea Buchanan will be present to discuss her first book, “Note to Self”.  Ms. Buchanan, a Lewisville High School graduate, interviewed more than 30 celebrities to discuss their success in overcoming difficult times in their lives. Sheryl Crow and Mariska Hargitay are among the notables Ms. Buchanan interviewed. Contact 972-317-7430 for more information