CRIME WATCH UPDATE

AVOID IDENTITY THEFT AT TAX TIME

DARREN DATTALO, CRIME WATCH COORDINATOR

April is upon us, and many of us are still slugging away at our taxes.

The IRS uses our Social Security numbers to cross-check reports from employers with tax filings from employees. But our Social Security numbers are the most successful way to get our identities hacked.

It’s possible that a communcation from the IRS could alert you that someone else is using your SSN. However, the IRS does not communicate with taxpayers via email, text or social media. They will only communicate by snail mail and they will never give out your SSN, not even to you. Only you can provide it to them.

If you get an email that claims to be from the IRS, do not reply or click on any links. Instead forward it to phishing@irs.gov. An identity thief could use your SSN to get a refund or even a job. (A job for which you could be liable for the taxes on...) If you receive a notice saying their records

LGNA LOWER

GREENVILLE

NEIGHBORHOOD

ASSOCIATION

MOCKINGBIRD TO ROSS / GREENVILLE TO SKILLMAN

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Patricia Carr | PRESIDENT 214-821-2562

Gay Hopkins | VICE PRESIDENT 214-827-4559

Pam Mueller | VICE PRESIDENT 214-821-1554

Debbie Daniel | TREASURER 214-821-0747

John Dailey | SECRETARY 214-821-6324

DIRECTORS

Andrea Brashier 214-384-4605

Lilia Estrada 214-874-3259

Michelle Foreman 214-394-2487

David Jones 214-300-1894

Ken Lampton 214-502-5858

Alan Schonborn 214-823-4057

USEFUL NUMBERS

Darren Dattalo | CRIME WATCH 214-476-8023

Council Member Philip Kingston 214-670-5415

DPD Officer Keith Allen 214-671-3477

Sanitation / Bulk Trash 214-670-3555

Code Compliance 214-670-5708

Animal Services Call 311

MARCH • APRIL 20156

P.O. BOX 720067• DALLAS, TX 75372

BULK TRASH DATEPICK UP: Mar 14-18 EARLIEST SET-OUT: Mar 10

PICK UP: Apr 11-15 EARLIEST SET-OUT: Apr 7

PICK UP: May 9-14 EARLIEST SET-OUT: May 5Remember: The city has a zero tolerance for placing trash out prior to the earliest set-out date. Don’t get stuck with a fine for missing the date.

LOG ON TO LGNA.NET for information and updates.

UPCOMING EVENT WHEN Tuesday, May 10 7:00 pm

WHERE Greenland Hills UMC 5835 Penrose

WHAT Appealing Your Property Taxes – DCAD

Find out what’s going on. Like Us on FACEBOOK

You’ve made it through income-tax season. Now it’s residential appraisal notice time.

Come hear how to appeal the value that DCAD has placed on your property. You’ll learn how to effectively appeal the appraised value on your home, how that value was determined, and what’s new from the State Legislature on taxation.

Cheryl Jordan, Community Relations Officer for the Dallas Central Appraisal District, will share common-sense information on how to possibly lower your tax bill. Even if you’re not a property owner, urge your landlord to attend.

Tuesday, May 10, 7:00pm at Greenland Hills UMC, 5835 Penrose.

This event is informational only. DCAD representatives cannot discuss details of specific cases.

(CONTINUED INSIDE)

Crime Reduction and Crime Prevention are two different things. The major difference is one of perspective. Crime Prevention looks at areas which are not yet troubled by much criminal activity. The perspective for Crime Reduction is areas already known for criminal activity. This can be a group of offenders who have racked up a long record of offenses. It might be a neighborhood plagued by break-ins. Or it could be a situation such as out-of-control house parties. I mention this because these issues have confronted your neighborhood and in some cases are a continuing issue.

Because crime reduction is focused on existing criminals, crime locations, and situations, it relies heavily on information or intelligence which describes those people, places, and situations. What are the patterns of criminal activity? The burglaries of motor vehicles are a perfect example. In many offenses, the vehicle is parked on the street and property inside the vehicle is taken.

Do the thieves live close? Why do the thieves stay within a few blocks of our major streets – Greenville, Matilda, and Skillman? The more information we receive, the better we can answer the questions.

Reality also dictates that we be vigilant in securing property. The weather is getting nicer with (relatively) mild days and nights. Remember to secure and lock your vehicles, garages, windows, and front/back doors. Please remind each other if you see your neighbor’s property left vulnerable.

Please provide us with any suspicious vehicle or person information. I hope you’ll stay vigilant about property crime as well as personal safety. Taking a few extra minutes to implement home safety tips could save many hours of frustration.

KEITH ALLEN—DALLAS POLICECRIME REDUCTION/PREVENTION

LOWEST GREENVILLE CONSTRUCTION PROGRESSIt’s getting more and more difficult to navigate Greenville Avenue between Ross and Belmont. But we should remember that the businesses that have helped to create the Lowest Greenville renaissance are still open for business and need neighborhood patronage.

In early March Tim Starr, Assistant Director of Dallas Public Works, chaired a meeting for Lowest Greenville merchants with construction company representatives and City staff. Neighborhood association representatives were invited.

The construction has lost time in the past few weeks and is now 6-8 weeks behind schedule. Completion is anticipated to be in August 2016.

The Lowest Greenville construction is a complete-streets project, not just cosmetic work. Because water and sewer mains are decades old, all are being replaced. Water line installation and tie-ins are close to complete.

Sidewalk construction was held until after St. Patrick’s, and the City will coordinate with individual businesses to decide the best time to tear out the old and install new sidewalks. It’s anticipated that work may sometimes be done at night or early mornings.

After underground sewer lines, AT&T lines, and Time Warner Cable lines are installed, street paving will commence. Side streets will be closed when intersections are paved – Alta first, then Lewis.

Detours and one-way traffic on either end of the construction will begin in June and stay that way until August. Traffic will be northbound on Greenville with traffic detoured onto Matilda. Some southbound traffic may need to detour onto Summit, but the City will try to preserve the residential nature of that street.

A new stoplight will be installed at Sears but will not be operational until work is completed. The City will communicate with Oncor and property owners regarding electrical tie-ins and filling the holes left from old electrical poles.

Councilmember Philip Kingston announced that the City has funds to improve the intersection at Greenville and Ross. Kingston said that he wants to improve pedestrian, bike, and traffic safety at the intersection. “All three are bad there,” he says.

PROPERTY TAXES GETTING YOU DOWN?

show that you were paid by an employer you don’t know or if more than one tax return was filed using your Social Security number – Contact the IRS at IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit 1-800-908-4490 to report the fraud.

Send a copy of your police report or an IRS ID Theft Affidavit Form 14039 and proof of your identity. When dealing with Identity theft – it’s important to first limit the potential damage before pursuing corrective action.

The annual St. Patrick’s madness has again come and gone. Problems in Lower Greenville continue to be alleviated although we continue to see crowds parking in our neighborhood in order to attend the parade on Upper Greenville. Greenville Avenue itself continues to experience a large amount of disruption.

This year there were complaints of trash and litter remaining in the area north of McCommas. A new clean-up crew assumed that the trash was the responsibility of businesses in that area. Responsibility was cleared up, and it was taken care of by Monday.

There was also confusion with 911 protocols. All 911 calls emanating from Lower Greenville — including blocked driveways — were to be forwarded to the Dallas Police command center located in the Robert E. Lee parking lot. That didn’t happen, but DPD issued an alternate telephone number which the Lower Greenville Neighborhood Association distributed to as many neighborhood residents as possible.

The block party attracted 15,000 patrons. DPD released a report on police activity in the block party area. The report does not include Lowest Greenville, Lower Greenville between McCommas and Mockingbird, or Upper Greenville.

ST. PAT’S EVENTS

STONEWALL ADDITIONS

As a move to replace modular temporary classrooms and increase the number of classrooms, Dallas Independent School District has filed an application to construct new additions to Stonewall Jackson Elementary.

Two expansion areas are planned – the existing modular area and a bump-out from the southern façade which will include part of the asphalt court area. The construction will also include improvements to the outmoded plumbing system.

Jeff Houle, the construction project manager, told LGNA that the garden area will not be impacted. Construction will start summer of 2016 with completion for fall 2017.

JAN 2016 FEB 2016

Home Break-ins 1 1

Car Break-ins 7 3

Robberies 2 1

Auto Theft 0 4

• 50 Calls • 6 Public Intoxication • 3 Investigative arrests

• 4 Citations • 223 Parking citations • 6 Vehicles towed

Arastu Jahanbin

AUTO * HOME * LIFE * BUSINESS

"The most appropriate coverageat the most competitive price!"

214-800-2872www.ajainsurance.com

AJ & AssociatesInsurance Brokerage

DiD yoU know?DiD yoU know?

JUST WHAT CAN WE RECYCLE? Or what can we not recycle? Dallas Sanitation Services has recently launched a new tool to assist with recycling. Are you looking for what to do with clothes, light bulbs or bottle caps? Starting typing in a material, and the search tool on www.DallasRecycles.com will point you in the right direction. You can also help improve the tool by suggesting materials that can be added to the database.

REMEMBER TO BRING IN TRASH/RECYCLING BINS. Most homes in our neighborhood are required to move trash and recycle bins to the curb for pickup. Remember the City ordinance that requires bins be placed at the curb no more than 24 hours before the pickup day and that they be removed within 24 hours after pickup day. There could be a fine attached for lingering bins.

MAIL DELIVERY PROBLEMS. Information from Gus, a popular and well-informed neighborhood letter carrier: Earlier this year USPS increased the letter-carrying crew for much of our neighborhood. These new employees may have had a learning curve, and service was frequently spotty and in many cases, poor. Service should be getting better. However, if you do experience problems with incorrect delivery, non-delivery, and package delivery, call 1-800-ASK-USPS (800-275-8777). If there is still no relief, call the Postmaster at 214-760-4660.

On the evening of February 24 Dallas Central Patrol Division Police Chief John Lawton, accompanied by members of command staff and neighborhood patrol officers, had a lively question-and-answer session with LGNA members and guests from Brian Parkway.

Some points from Chief Lawton’s discussion and one-on-one conversations:

•There has been an improvement in the city’s crime rate.

• For noise and loud music complaints – Call 911.

• For aggressive panhandlers – Call 911.

• Burglary of motor vehicles (BMVs) is too common. Lock, take, and hide.

• Theft of vehicle third seats is becoming more common. Etch your TDL number or other ID on these desirable robbery targets.

• When you see someone suspicious – in the alley, on the street, in a yard – call 911. Give a description of that person and what they’re doing that’s suspicious.

• There’s been some attention to the Open Carry Law which took effect on January 1, 2016. It’s understood that there will be some apprehension. Take into account the activity of the person open carrying. Use your common sense. Violations can include the removal of the gun from a secured holster, when a gun-holder seems intoxicated, and when the gun holder is obviously committing a crime or acting in a reckless or suspicious manner. Your local Police substation and 311 are always available for citizens to assist them with information or 911 for dispatching officers to investigate based on the information provided.

Thanks to the Lower Greenville Neighborhood Association and BuzzBrews for delicious snacks for event participants.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND JOIN NOW!

Please print clearly! Email addresses are required to receive neighborhood alerts. Personal information is not shared with any outside group or used for any other purpose. Receipts will be furnished upon request. Checks for LGNA membership should be made out to LGNA. For Extended Neighborhood Patrol membership, checks should be made out to LGNA-ENP. Please provide separate checks if possible. Mail this form and check payable to LGNA or LGNA-ENP to: PO Box 720067, Dallas, TX 75372 (or bring it to the next LGNA meeting).

!

name:

address:

phone:

cell:

email:

Please choose all that apply:

n Join LGNA ($20/yr, $5 for 65+)

n Join Expanded Neighborhood Patrol ($200/yr, $150 for 65+)

nAdd me to the Crime Watch Email List

n Please contact me about Volunteering

Pay Pal Now Available: LGNA has made it a little easier for you to become a member. We’ve added PayPal to the LGNA website. On the site, you’ll see two buttons, one for regular membership and one for seniors (65+). If you have a PayPal account, you can use that directly. If not, you can skip that step and proceed directly to a credit card processing page. LGNA does not receive your credit card information, only the contact information. There is no surcharge added to the regular $20 per household membership ($5 for seniors).

Find out what’s going on. Like Us on FACEBOOK

The LGNA newsletter now features advertising from neighborhood businesses. Our full-color newsletter is delivered to 2,700 households in the LGNA area. If you’re interested in showcasing your business at a nominal rate, contact Advertising@LGNA.net

ADVERTISING IN THE LGNA NEWSLETTER

Beginning in December 2015, LGNA volunteers worked with the Dallas Police Department, Dallas city offices, other neighborhood associations, and local businesses to ease the impact of tens of thousands visiting our neighborhood for the block party and private house parties, as well as the influx of 125,000+ parade visitors.

A major effort was the construction and posting of 750+ temporary no-parking signs to allow passage of emergency vehicles and increased traffic on our residential streets. Neighborhood volunteers met with DPD Explorer Posts at Tietze Park on Saturday, March 12, to construct the signs.

Volunteers and Explorers also moved to the Glencoe Park area which also receives the no-parking signs but has no active neighborhood association to distribute the information that was included in LGNA’s previous newsletter. Last year most Glencoe Park residents were taken by surprise when signs appeared along their streets, and LGNA took responsibility this year for helping our neighbors.

On March 17, the Thursday before the events, Explorers, DPD officers, and countless neighborhood volunteers provided teams to fan out over our neighborhood. Teams with mallets and hammers loaded vehicles with signs and went to every street in the LGNA area, Ross to Mockingbird and Greenville to Skillman, as well as streets west of Greenville south of Belmont.

Volunteers included family groups, couples, and individuals who carried Explorers and volunteers in their vehicles and who installed the signs themselves. Neighborhood participation of folks willing to help was gratifying. Thank you!

Our thanks to Blue Goose Cantina, Dubliner Pub, US. Foods, State Representative Morgan Meyer, and City Councilmember Philip Kingston for providing generous donations for Saturday breakfast and Thursday dinner for the volunteers.

ST. PAT’S EVENTS(continued)

As well as hosting the DCAD discussion on property taxes, the May 10 event at Greenland Hills UMC will be the Lower Greenville Neighborhood Association’s annual meeting which includes election of three posts on the LGNA board of directors. All three candidates are nominated for reelection to the board.

Debbie Daniel was elected to the LGNA board in 2010. She is the hard-working treasurer and membership chair. Debbie initiated the Welcome Wagon packet which is delivered to 125+ new homeowners per year.

David Jones has been on the LGNA board since 2010. He is newsletter distribution chair, coordinating and recruiting the volunteers who deliver 2,700 newsletters per issue.

Gay Hopkins has been an LGNA board member since 1998. A former president, she is now vice president. Gay also acts as corresponding secretary and is knowledgeable of the history of the LGNA area.

Ballots will be mailed to LGNA voting members. At least one-third of the membership must vote, so each ballot is important. Promptly marking and returning your ballot to PO Box 720067, Dallas 75372 will be appreciated.

LGNA ANNUAL MEETING

We live in the Belmont addition on Goliad and Concho. Recently at 5:30am two coyotes killed a neighbor’s kitty in my front yard. This poor kitty didn’t have a chance, and the crime scene was horrifying. After this startling event in the morning, the coyotes returned at 2pm and decided to sleep in my front yard until I scared them off.

Neighbors, face the facts. Our city can’t and won’t do much about it. I’ve contacted 311, 911, and our city council member, and the best place I found information or guidance was 911wildlife.com or you can call them at 214-368-5911. They cannot help, but they have provided information that we can use and teach others. The truth is, only WE can take action. The big takeaways are as follows:

• Be aggressive and scary, reclaim your/our territory. If you see a coyote, yell and make noise – use a loud whistle or alarm sound. Throwing something at a coyote is the best method to scare them off. There’s something about making contact with an object that scares them away.

• Run or walk aggressively towards them. In general, be aggressive! They are no longer afraid of us because we often just watch them, take pictures, shoot video, get on our phones, but we don’t act aggressive towards them typically. Adults and children are fine, walking your dog on a leash is fine, they will not attack randomly day or night, and (believe it or not) they’re very afraid of people. Humans are not at risk, animals over 10 lbs are typically not at risk. However, we must exude aggression when we see them to keep that balance.

• Time feed your outdoor cats or other animals, especially those who feed feral or neighborhood cats. This means, put food out at a certain time and pick it back up at a certain time. Never leave it out overnight. This feeds our neighborhoods kitties, but it also attracts other critters that are prey for the coyotes. The coyotes are looking for food, be it what you’ve set out for our outside kitties or the small critters like possum, raccoons, rats, and other rodents that come to eat it.

• All animals under 10 lbs are at risk if there are no humans around. This goes for our back yards, too. A coyote can clear (or climb) a 10-foot fence. That’s not their preference and they don’t typically do it, but they will if they’re hungry enough. And make no mistake, they are hungry.

• We have seen more coyotes in recent months because late winter is their mating season. However, coyotes have always been in our neighborhood; the population has not necessarily increased. We’re just seeing more of them and it’s partially our own fault. Our police force is not trained to handle wild animals, and Animal Control usually can’t catch them unless they’re sick. We are advised not to poison them, and it’s illegal to shoot a firearm in the city. If they are trapped and removed, the remaining coyotes will have larger litters to fill in the available territory.

• However, we can make a difference with these two major actions – be scary and aggressive if you see one, make it understand that it’s not welcome where humans live and walk, and time feed your outdoor pets.

• They no longer just roam at night, although that’s their preference. They are now actively seen in broad daylight, making a bed or sleeping on front porches and back yards. They’re brazen now, so we must act to curtail the situation and drive them back into hiding or new territory.

My heart goes out to the lovely young neighbor who lost her kitty. It was accidental that her kitty got outside the night before. Little did I realize when I was warning neighbors, it was her precious kitty until she turned as white as ghost and we both realized at the same time that it was her sweet pet.

Neighbors, share this information with our other neighbors and we can make a difference and reclaim our neighborhood from the coyotes.

Terra Lahrman, Goliad Resident

COYOTE ADVICE Be aggressive to the coyotes and time-feed your outdoor pets[ [MEET THE

CENTRAL DIVISION CHIEF

CRIME WATCH UPDATE

AVOID IDENTITY THEFT AT TAX TIME

DARREN DATTALO, CRIME WATCH COORDINATOR

April is upon us, and many of us are still slugging away at our taxes.

The IRS uses our Social Security numbers to cross-check reports from employers with tax filings from employees. But our Social Security numbers are the most successful way to get our identities hacked.

It’s possible that a communcation from the IRS could alert you that someone else is using your SSN. However, the IRS does not communicate with taxpayers via email, text or social media. They will only communicate by snail mail and they will never give out your SSN, not even to you. Only you can provide it to them.

If you get an email that claims to be from the IRS, do not reply or click on any links. Instead forward it to phishing@irs.gov. An identity thief could use your SSN to get a refund or even a job. (A job for which you could be liable for the taxes on...) If you receive a notice saying their records

LGNA LOWER

GREENVILLE

NEIGHBORHOOD

ASSOCIATION

MOCKINGBIRD TO ROSS / GREENVILLE TO SKILLMAN

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Patricia Carr | PRESIDENT 214-821-2562

Gay Hopkins | VICE PRESIDENT 214-827-4559

Pam Mueller | VICE PRESIDENT 214-821-1554

Debbie Daniel | TREASURER 214-821-0747

John Dailey | SECRETARY 214-821-6324

DIRECTORS

Andrea Brashier 214-384-4605

Lilia Estrada 214-874-3259

Michelle Foreman 214-394-2487

David Jones 214-300-1894

Ken Lampton 214-502-5858

Alan Schonborn 214-823-4057

USEFUL NUMBERS

Darren Dattalo | CRIME WATCH 214-476-8023

Council Member Philip Kingston 214-670-5415

DPD Officer Keith Allen 214-671-3477

Sanitation / Bulk Trash 214-670-3555

Code Compliance 214-670-5708

Animal Services Call 311

MARCH • APRIL 20156

P.O. BOX 720067• DALLAS, TX 75372

BULK TRASH DATEPICK UP: Mar 14-18 EARLIEST SET-OUT: Mar 10

PICK UP: Apr 11-15 EARLIEST SET-OUT: Apr 7

PICK UP: May 9-14 EARLIEST SET-OUT: May 5Remember: The city has a zero tolerance for placing trash out prior to the earliest set-out date. Don’t get stuck with a fine for missing the date.

LOG ON TO LGNA.NET for information and updates.

UPCOMING EVENT WHEN Tuesday, May 10 7:00 pm

WHERE Greenland Hills UMC 5835 Penrose

WHAT Appealing Your Property Taxes – DCAD

Find out what’s going on. Like Us on FACEBOOK

You’ve made it through income-tax season. Now it’s residential appraisal notice time.

Come hear how to appeal the value that DCAD has placed on your property. You’ll learn how to effectively appeal the appraised value on your home, how that value was determined, and what’s new from the State Legislature on taxation.

Cheryl Jordan, Community Relations Officer for the Dallas Central Appraisal District, will share common-sense information on how to possibly lower your tax bill. Even if you’re not a property owner, urge your landlord to attend.

Tuesday, May 10, 7:00pm at Greenland Hills UMC, 5835 Penrose.

This event is informational only. DCAD representatives cannot discuss details of specific cases.

(CONTINUED INSIDE)

Crime Reduction and Crime Prevention are two different things. The major difference is one of perspective. Crime Prevention looks at areas which are not yet troubled by much criminal activity. The perspective for Crime Reduction is areas already known for criminal activity. This can be a group of offenders who have racked up a long record of offenses. It might be a neighborhood plagued by break-ins. Or it could be a situation such as out-of-control house parties. I mention this because these issues have confronted your neighborhood and in some cases are a continuing issue.

Because crime reduction is focused on existing criminals, crime locations, and situations, it relies heavily on information or intelligence which describes those people, places, and situations. What are the patterns of criminal activity? The burglaries of motor vehicles are a perfect example. In many offenses, the vehicle is parked on the street and property inside the vehicle is taken.

Do the thieves live close? Why do the thieves stay within a few blocks of our major streets – Greenville, Matilda, and Skillman? The more information we receive, the better we can answer the questions.

Reality also dictates that we be vigilant in securing property. The weather is getting nicer with (relatively) mild days and nights. Remember to secure and lock your vehicles, garages, windows, and front/back doors. Please remind each other if you see your neighbor’s property left vulnerable.

Please provide us with any suspicious vehicle or person information. I hope you’ll stay vigilant about property crime as well as personal safety. Taking a few extra minutes to implement home safety tips could save many hours of frustration.

KEITH ALLEN—DALLAS POLICECRIME REDUCTION/PREVENTION

LOWEST GREENVILLE CONSTRUCTION PROGRESSIt’s getting more and more difficult to navigate Greenville Avenue between Ross and Belmont. But we should remember that the businesses that have helped to create the Lowest Greenville renaissance are still open for business and need neighborhood patronage.

In early March Tim Starr, Assistant Director of Dallas Public Works, chaired a meeting for Lowest Greenville merchants with construction company representatives and City staff. Neighborhood association representatives were invited.

The construction has lost time in the past few weeks and is now 6-8 weeks behind schedule. Completion is anticipated to be in August 2016.

The Lowest Greenville construction is a complete-streets project, not just cosmetic work. Because water and sewer mains are decades old, all are being replaced. Water line installation and tie-ins are close to complete.

Sidewalk construction was held until after St. Patrick’s, and the City will coordinate with individual businesses to decide the best time to tear out the old and install new sidewalks. It’s anticipated that work may sometimes be done at night or early mornings.

After underground sewer lines, AT&T lines, and Time Warner Cable lines are installed, street paving will commence. Side streets will be closed when intersections are paved – Alta first, then Lewis.

Detours and one-way traffic on either end of the construction will begin in June and stay that way until August. Traffic will be northbound on Greenville with traffic detoured onto Matilda. Some southbound traffic may need to detour onto Summit, but the City will try to preserve the residential nature of that street.

A new stoplight will be installed at Sears but will not be operational until work is completed. The City will communicate with Oncor and property owners regarding electrical tie-ins and filling the holes left from old electrical poles.

Councilmember Philip Kingston announced that the City has funds to improve the intersection at Greenville and Ross. Kingston said that he wants to improve pedestrian, bike, and traffic safety at the intersection. “All three are bad there,” he says.

PROPERTY TAXES GETTING YOU DOWN?

show that you were paid by an employer you don’t know or if more than one tax return was filed using your Social Security number – Contact the IRS at IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit 1-800-908-4490 to report the fraud.

Send a copy of your police report or an IRS ID Theft Affidavit Form 14039 and proof of your identity. When dealing with Identity theft – it’s important to first limit the potential damage before pursuing corrective action.

The annual St. Patrick’s madness has again come and gone. Problems in Lower Greenville continue to be alleviated although we continue to see crowds parking in our neighborhood in order to attend the parade on Upper Greenville. Greenville Avenue itself continues to experience a large amount of disruption.

This year there were complaints of trash and litter remaining in the area north of McCommas. A new clean-up crew assumed that the trash was the responsibility of businesses in that area. Responsibility was cleared up, and it was taken care of by Monday.

There was also confusion with 911 protocols. All 911 calls emanating from Lower Greenville — including blocked driveways — were to be forwarded to the Dallas Police command center located in the Robert E. Lee parking lot. That didn’t happen, but DPD issued an alternate telephone number which the Lower Greenville Neighborhood Association distributed to as many neighborhood residents as possible.

The block party attracted 15,000 patrons. DPD released a report on police activity in the block party area. The report does not include Lowest Greenville, Lower Greenville between McCommas and Mockingbird, or Upper Greenville.

ST. PAT’S EVENTS

STONEWALL ADDITIONS

As a move to replace modular temporary classrooms and increase the number of classrooms, Dallas Independent School District has filed an application to construct new additions to Stonewall Jackson Elementary.

Two expansion areas are planned – the existing modular area and a bump-out from the southern façade which will include part of the asphalt court area. The construction will also include improvements to the outmoded plumbing system.

Jeff Houle, the construction project manager, told LGNA that the garden area will not be impacted. Construction will start summer of 2016 with completion for fall 2017.

JAN 2016 FEB 2016

Home Break-ins 1 1

Car Break-ins 7 3

Robberies 2 1

Auto Theft 0 4

• 50 Calls • 6 Public Intoxication • 3 Investigative arrests

• 4 Citations • 223 Parking citations • 6 Vehicles towed

Arastu Jahanbin

AUTO * HOME * LIFE * BUSINESS

"The most appropriate coverageat the most competitive price!"

214-800-2872www.ajainsurance.com

AJ & AssociatesInsurance Brokerage

DiD yoU know?DiD yoU know?

JUST WHAT CAN WE RECYCLE? Or what can we not recycle? Dallas Sanitation Services has recently launched a new tool to assist with recycling. Are you looking for what to do with clothes, light bulbs or bottle caps? Starting typing in a material, and the search tool on www.DallasRecycles.com will point you in the right direction. You can also help improve the tool by suggesting materials that can be added to the database.

REMEMBER TO BRING IN TRASH/RECYCLING BINS. Most homes in our neighborhood are required to move trash and recycle bins to the curb for pickup. Remember the City ordinance that requires bins be placed at the curb no more than 24 hours before the pickup day and that they be removed within 24 hours after pickup day. There could be a fine attached for lingering bins.

MAIL DELIVERY PROBLEMS. Information from Gus, a popular and well-informed neighborhood letter carrier: Earlier this year USPS increased the letter-carrying crew for much of our neighborhood. These new employees may have had a learning curve, and service was frequently spotty and in many cases, poor. Service should be getting better. However, if you do experience problems with incorrect delivery, non-delivery, and package delivery, call 1-800-ASK-USPS (800-275-8777). If there is still no relief, call the Postmaster at 214-760-4660.

On the evening of February 24 Dallas Central Patrol Division Police Chief John Lawton, accompanied by members of command staff and neighborhood patrol officers, had a lively question-and-answer session with LGNA members and guests from Brian Parkway.

Some points from Chief Lawton’s discussion and one-on-one conversations:

•There has been an improvement in the city’s crime rate.

• For noise and loud music complaints – Call 911.

• For aggressive panhandlers – Call 911.

• Burglary of motor vehicles (BMVs) is too common. Lock, take, and hide.

• Theft of vehicle third seats is becoming more common. Etch your TDL number or other ID on these desirable robbery targets.

• When you see someone suspicious – in the alley, on the street, in a yard – call 911. Give a description of that person and what they’re doing that’s suspicious.

• There’s been some attention to the Open Carry Law which took effect on January 1, 2016. It’s understood that there will be some apprehension. Take into account the activity of the person open carrying. Use your common sense. Violations can include the removal of the gun from a secured holster, when a gun-holder seems intoxicated, and when the gun holder is obviously committing a crime or acting in a reckless or suspicious manner. Your local Police substation and 311 are always available for citizens to assist them with information or 911 for dispatching officers to investigate based on the information provided.

Thanks to the Lower Greenville Neighborhood Association and BuzzBrews for delicious snacks for event participants.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND JOIN NOW!

Please print clearly! Email addresses are required to receive neighborhood alerts. Personal information is not shared with any outside group or used for any other purpose. Receipts will be furnished upon request. Checks for LGNA membership should be made out to LGNA. For Extended Neighborhood Patrol membership, checks should be made out to LGNA-ENP. Please provide separate checks if possible. Mail this form and check payable to LGNA or LGNA-ENP to: PO Box 720067, Dallas, TX 75372 (or bring it to the next LGNA meeting).

!

name:

address:

phone:

cell:

email:

Please choose all that apply:

n Join LGNA ($20/yr, $5 for 65+)

n Join Expanded Neighborhood Patrol ($200/yr, $150 for 65+)

nAdd me to the Crime Watch Email List

n Please contact me about Volunteering

Pay Pal Now Available: LGNA has made it a little easier for you to become a member. We’ve added PayPal to the LGNA website. On the site, you’ll see two buttons, one for regular membership and one for seniors (65+). If you have a PayPal account, you can use that directly. If not, you can skip that step and proceed directly to a credit card processing page. LGNA does not receive your credit card information, only the contact information. There is no surcharge added to the regular $20 per household membership ($5 for seniors).

Find out what’s going on. Like Us on FACEBOOK

The LGNA newsletter now features advertising from neighborhood businesses. Our full-color newsletter is delivered to 2,700 households in the LGNA area. If you’re interested in showcasing your business at a nominal rate, contact Advertising@LGNA.net

ADVERTISING IN THE LGNA NEWSLETTER

Beginning in December 2015, LGNA volunteers worked with the Dallas Police Department, Dallas city offices, other neighborhood associations, and local businesses to ease the impact of tens of thousands visiting our neighborhood for the block party and private house parties, as well as the influx of 125,000+ parade visitors.

A major effort was the construction and posting of 750+ temporary no-parking signs to allow passage of emergency vehicles and increased traffic on our residential streets. Neighborhood volunteers met with DPD Explorer Posts at Tietze Park on Saturday, March 12, to construct the signs.

Volunteers and Explorers also moved to the Glencoe Park area which also receives the no-parking signs but has no active neighborhood association to distribute the information that was included in LGNA’s previous newsletter. Last year most Glencoe Park residents were taken by surprise when signs appeared along their streets, and LGNA took responsibility this year for helping our neighbors.

On March 17, the Thursday before the events, Explorers, DPD officers, and countless neighborhood volunteers provided teams to fan out over our neighborhood. Teams with mallets and hammers loaded vehicles with signs and went to every street in the LGNA area, Ross to Mockingbird and Greenville to Skillman, as well as streets west of Greenville south of Belmont.

Volunteers included family groups, couples, and individuals who carried Explorers and volunteers in their vehicles and who installed the signs themselves. Neighborhood participation of folks willing to help was gratifying. Thank you!

Our thanks to Blue Goose Cantina, Dubliner Pub, US. Foods, State Representative Morgan Meyer, and City Councilmember Philip Kingston for providing generous donations for Saturday breakfast and Thursday dinner for the volunteers.

ST. PAT’S EVENTS(continued)

As well as hosting the DCAD discussion on property taxes, the May 10 event at Greenland Hills UMC will be the Lower Greenville Neighborhood Association’s annual meeting which includes election of three posts on the LGNA board of directors. All three candidates are nominated for reelection to the board.

Debbie Daniel was elected to the LGNA board in 2010. She is the hard-working treasurer and membership chair. Debbie initiated the Welcome Wagon packet which is delivered to 125+ new homeowners per year.

David Jones has been on the LGNA board since 2010. He is newsletter distribution chair, coordinating and recruiting the volunteers who deliver 2,700 newsletters per issue.

Gay Hopkins has been an LGNA board member since 1998. A former president, she is now vice president. Gay also acts as corresponding secretary and is knowledgeable of the history of the LGNA area.

Ballots will be mailed to LGNA voting members. At least one-third of the membership must vote, so each ballot is important. Promptly marking and returning your ballot to PO Box 720067, Dallas 75372 will be appreciated.

LGNA ANNUAL MEETING

We live in the Belmont addition on Goliad and Concho. Recently at 5:30am two coyotes killed a neighbor’s kitty in my front yard. This poor kitty didn’t have a chance, and the crime scene was horrifying. After this startling event in the morning, the coyotes returned at 2pm and decided to sleep in my front yard until I scared them off.

Neighbors, face the facts. Our city can’t and won’t do much about it. I’ve contacted 311, 911, and our city council member, and the best place I found information or guidance was 911wildlife.com or you can call them at 214-368-5911. They cannot help, but they have provided information that we can use and teach others. The truth is, only WE can take action. The big takeaways are as follows:

• Be aggressive and scary, reclaim your/our territory. If you see a coyote, yell and make noise – use a loud whistle or alarm sound. Throwing something at a coyote is the best method to scare them off. There’s something about making contact with an object that scares them away.

• Run or walk aggressively towards them. In general, be aggressive! They are no longer afraid of us because we often just watch them, take pictures, shoot video, get on our phones, but we don’t act aggressive towards them typically. Adults and children are fine, walking your dog on a leash is fine, they will not attack randomly day or night, and (believe it or not) they’re very afraid of people. Humans are not at risk, animals over 10 lbs are typically not at risk. However, we must exude aggression when we see them to keep that balance.

• Time feed your outdoor cats or other animals, especially those who feed feral or neighborhood cats. This means, put food out at a certain time and pick it back up at a certain time. Never leave it out overnight. This feeds our neighborhoods kitties, but it also attracts other critters that are prey for the coyotes. The coyotes are looking for food, be it what you’ve set out for our outside kitties or the small critters like possum, raccoons, rats, and other rodents that come to eat it.

• All animals under 10 lbs are at risk if there are no humans around. This goes for our back yards, too. A coyote can clear (or climb) a 10-foot fence. That’s not their preference and they don’t typically do it, but they will if they’re hungry enough. And make no mistake, they are hungry.

• We have seen more coyotes in recent months because late winter is their mating season. However, coyotes have always been in our neighborhood; the population has not necessarily increased. We’re just seeing more of them and it’s partially our own fault. Our police force is not trained to handle wild animals, and Animal Control usually can’t catch them unless they’re sick. We are advised not to poison them, and it’s illegal to shoot a firearm in the city. If they are trapped and removed, the remaining coyotes will have larger litters to fill in the available territory.

• However, we can make a difference with these two major actions – be scary and aggressive if you see one, make it understand that it’s not welcome where humans live and walk, and time feed your outdoor pets.

• They no longer just roam at night, although that’s their preference. They are now actively seen in broad daylight, making a bed or sleeping on front porches and back yards. They’re brazen now, so we must act to curtail the situation and drive them back into hiding or new territory.

My heart goes out to the lovely young neighbor who lost her kitty. It was accidental that her kitty got outside the night before. Little did I realize when I was warning neighbors, it was her precious kitty until she turned as white as ghost and we both realized at the same time that it was her sweet pet.

Neighbors, share this information with our other neighbors and we can make a difference and reclaim our neighborhood from the coyotes.

Terra Lahrman, Goliad Resident

COYOTE ADVICE Be aggressive to the coyotes and time-feed your outdoor pets[ [MEET THE

CENTRAL DIVISION CHIEF

Arastu Jahanbin

AUTO * HOME * LIFE * BUSINESS

"The most appropriate coverageat the most competitive price!"

214-800-2872www.ajainsurance.com

AJ & AssociatesInsurance Brokerage

DiD yoU know?DiD yoU know?

JUST WHAT CAN WE RECYCLE? Or what can we not recycle? Dallas Sanitation Services has recently launched a new tool to assist with recycling. Are you looking for what to do with clothes, light bulbs or bottle caps? Starting typing in a material, and the search tool on www.DallasRecycles.com will point you in the right direction. You can also help improve the tool by suggesting materials that can be added to the database.

REMEMBER TO BRING IN TRASH/RECYCLING BINS. Most homes in our neighborhood are required to move trash and recycle bins to the curb for pickup. Remember the City ordinance that requires bins be placed at the curb no more than 24 hours before the pickup day and that they be removed within 24 hours after pickup day. There could be a fine attached for lingering bins.

MAIL DELIVERY PROBLEMS. Information from Gus, a popular and well-informed neighborhood letter carrier: Earlier this year USPS increased the letter-carrying crew for much of our neighborhood. These new employees may have had a learning curve, and service was frequently spotty and in many cases, poor. Service should be getting better. However, if you do experience problems with incorrect delivery, non-delivery, and package delivery, call 1-800-ASK-USPS (800-275-8777). If there is still no relief, call the Postmaster at 214-760-4660.

On the evening of February 24 Dallas Central Patrol Division Police Chief John Lawton, accompanied by members of command staff and neighborhood patrol officers, had a lively question-and-answer session with LGNA members and guests from Brian Parkway.

Some points from Chief Lawton’s discussion and one-on-one conversations:

•There has been an improvement in the city’s crime rate.

• For noise and loud music complaints – Call 911.

• For aggressive panhandlers – Call 911.

• Burglary of motor vehicles (BMVs) is too common. Lock, take, and hide.

• Theft of vehicle third seats is becoming more common. Etch your TDL number or other ID on these desirable robbery targets.

• When you see someone suspicious – in the alley, on the street, in a yard – call 911. Give a description of that person and what they’re doing that’s suspicious.

• There’s been some attention to the Open Carry Law which took effect on January 1, 2016. It’s understood that there will be some apprehension. Take into account the activity of the person open carrying. Use your common sense. Violations can include the removal of the gun from a secured holster, when a gun-holder seems intoxicated, and when the gun holder is obviously committing a crime or acting in a reckless or suspicious manner. Your local Police substation and 311 are always available for citizens to assist them with information or 911 for dispatching officers to investigate based on the information provided.

Thanks to the Lower Greenville Neighborhood Association and BuzzBrews for delicious snacks for event participants.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND JOIN NOW!

Please print clearly! Email addresses are required to receive neighborhood alerts. Personal information is not shared with any outside group or used for any other purpose. Receipts will be furnished upon request. Checks for LGNA membership should be made out to LGNA. For Extended Neighborhood Patrol membership, checks should be made out to LGNA-ENP. Please provide separate checks if possible. Mail this form and check payable to LGNA or LGNA-ENP to: PO Box 720067, Dallas, TX 75372 (or bring it to the next LGNA meeting).

!

name:

address:

phone:

cell:

email:

Please choose all that apply:

n Join LGNA ($20/yr, $5 for 65+)

n Join Expanded Neighborhood Patrol ($200/yr, $150 for 65+)

nAdd me to the Crime Watch Email List

n Please contact me about Volunteering

Pay Pal Now Available: LGNA has made it a little easier for you to become a member. We’ve added PayPal to the LGNA website. On the site, you’ll see two buttons, one for regular membership and one for seniors (65+). If you have a PayPal account, you can use that directly. If not, you can skip that step and proceed directly to a credit card processing page. LGNA does not receive your credit card information, only the contact information. There is no surcharge added to the regular $20 per household membership ($5 for seniors).

Find out what’s going on. Like Us on FACEBOOK

The LGNA newsletter now features advertising from neighborhood businesses. Our full-color newsletter is delivered to 2,700 households in the LGNA area. If you’re interested in showcasing your business at a nominal rate, contact Advertising@LGNA.net

ADVERTISING IN THE LGNA NEWSLETTER

Beginning in December 2015, LGNA volunteers worked with the Dallas Police Department, Dallas city offices, other neighborhood associations, and local businesses to ease the impact of tens of thousands visiting our neighborhood for the block party and private house parties, as well as the influx of 125,000+ parade visitors.

A major effort was the construction and posting of 750+ temporary no-parking signs to allow passage of emergency vehicles and increased traffic on our residential streets. Neighborhood volunteers met with DPD Explorer Posts at Tietze Park on Saturday, March 12, to construct the signs.

Volunteers and Explorers also moved to the Glencoe Park area which also receives the no-parking signs but has no active neighborhood association to distribute the information that was included in LGNA’s previous newsletter. Last year most Glencoe Park residents were taken by surprise when signs appeared along their streets, and LGNA took responsibility this year for helping our neighbors.

On March 17, the Thursday before the events, Explorers, DPD officers, and countless neighborhood volunteers provided teams to fan out over our neighborhood. Teams with mallets and hammers loaded vehicles with signs and went to every street in the LGNA area, Ross to Mockingbird and Greenville to Skillman, as well as streets west of Greenville south of Belmont.

Volunteers included family groups, couples, and individuals who carried Explorers and volunteers in their vehicles and who installed the signs themselves. Neighborhood participation of folks willing to help was gratifying. Thank you!

Our thanks to Blue Goose Cantina, Dubliner Pub, US. Foods, State Representative Morgan Meyer, and City Councilmember Philip Kingston for providing generous donations for Saturday breakfast and Thursday dinner for the volunteers.

ST. PAT’S EVENTS(continued)

As well as hosting the DCAD discussion on property taxes, the May 10 event at Greenland Hills UMC will be the Lower Greenville Neighborhood Association’s annual meeting which includes election of three posts on the LGNA board of directors. All three candidates are nominated for reelection to the board.

Debbie Daniel was elected to the LGNA board in 2010. She is the hard-working treasurer and membership chair. Debbie initiated the Welcome Wagon packet which is delivered to 125+ new homeowners per year.

David Jones has been on the LGNA board since 2010. He is newsletter distribution chair, coordinating and recruiting the volunteers who deliver 2,700 newsletters per issue.

Gay Hopkins has been an LGNA board member since 1998. A former president, she is now vice president. Gay also acts as corresponding secretary and is knowledgeable of the history of the LGNA area.

Ballots will be mailed to LGNA voting members. At least one-third of the membership must vote, so each ballot is important. Promptly marking and returning your ballot to PO Box 720067, Dallas 75372 will be appreciated.

LGNA ANNUAL MEETING

We live in the Belmont addition on Goliad and Concho. Recently at 5:30am two coyotes killed a neighbor’s kitty in my front yard. This poor kitty didn’t have a chance, and the crime scene was horrifying. After this startling event in the morning, the coyotes returned at 2pm and decided to sleep in my front yard until I scared them off.

Neighbors, face the facts. Our city can’t and won’t do much about it. I’ve contacted 311, 911, and our city council member, and the best place I found information or guidance was 911wildlife.com or you can call them at 214-368-5911. They cannot help, but they have provided information that we can use and teach others. The truth is, only WE can take action. The big takeaways are as follows:

• Be aggressive and scary, reclaim your/our territory. If you see a coyote, yell and make noise – use a loud whistle or alarm sound. Throwing something at a coyote is the best method to scare them off. There’s something about making contact with an object that scares them away.

• Run or walk aggressively towards them. In general, be aggressive! They are no longer afraid of us because we often just watch them, take pictures, shoot video, get on our phones, but we don’t act aggressive towards them typically. Adults and children are fine, walking your dog on a leash is fine, they will not attack randomly day or night, and (believe it or not) they’re very afraid of people. Humans are not at risk, animals over 10 lbs are typically not at risk. However, we must exude aggression when we see them to keep that balance.

• Time feed your outdoor cats or other animals, especially those who feed feral or neighborhood cats. This means, put food out at a certain time and pick it back up at a certain time. Never leave it out overnight. This feeds our neighborhoods kitties, but it also attracts other critters that are prey for the coyotes. The coyotes are looking for food, be it what you’ve set out for our outside kitties or the small critters like possum, raccoons, rats, and other rodents that come to eat it.

• All animals under 10 lbs are at risk if there are no humans around. This goes for our back yards, too. A coyote can clear (or climb) a 10-foot fence. That’s not their preference and they don’t typically do it, but they will if they’re hungry enough. And make no mistake, they are hungry.

• We have seen more coyotes in recent months because late winter is their mating season. However, coyotes have always been in our neighborhood; the population has not necessarily increased. We’re just seeing more of them and it’s partially our own fault. Our police force is not trained to handle wild animals, and Animal Control usually can’t catch them unless they’re sick. We are advised not to poison them, and it’s illegal to shoot a firearm in the city. If they are trapped and removed, the remaining coyotes will have larger litters to fill in the available territory.

• However, we can make a difference with these two major actions – be scary and aggressive if you see one, make it understand that it’s not welcome where humans live and walk, and time feed your outdoor pets.

• They no longer just roam at night, although that’s their preference. They are now actively seen in broad daylight, making a bed or sleeping on front porches and back yards. They’re brazen now, so we must act to curtail the situation and drive them back into hiding or new territory.

My heart goes out to the lovely young neighbor who lost her kitty. It was accidental that her kitty got outside the night before. Little did I realize when I was warning neighbors, it was her precious kitty until she turned as white as ghost and we both realized at the same time that it was her sweet pet.

Neighbors, share this information with our other neighbors and we can make a difference and reclaim our neighborhood from the coyotes.

Terra Lahrman, Goliad Resident

COYOTE ADVICE Be aggressive to the coyotes and time-feed your outdoor pets[ [MEET THE

CENTRAL DIVISION CHIEF

CRIME WATCH UPDATE

AVOID IDENTITY THEFT AT TAX TIME

DARREN DATTALO, CRIME WATCH COORDINATOR

April is upon us, and many of us are still slugging away at our taxes.

The IRS uses our Social Security numbers to cross-check reports from employers with tax filings from employees. But our Social Security numbers are the most successful way to get our identities hacked.

It’s possible that a communcation from the IRS could alert you that someone else is using your SSN. However, the IRS does not communicate with taxpayers via email, text or social media. They will only communicate by snail mail and they will never give out your SSN, not even to you. Only you can provide it to them.

If you get an email that claims to be from the IRS, do not reply or click on any links. Instead forward it to phishing@irs.gov. An identity thief could use your SSN to get a refund or even a job. (A job for which you could be liable for the taxes on...) If you receive a notice saying their records

LGNA LOWER

GREENVILLE

NEIGHBORHOOD

ASSOCIATION

MOCKINGBIRD TO ROSS / GREENVILLE TO SKILLMAN

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Patricia Carr | PRESIDENT 214-821-2562

Gay Hopkins | VICE PRESIDENT 214-827-4559

Pam Mueller | VICE PRESIDENT 214-821-1554

Debbie Daniel | TREASURER 214-821-0747

John Dailey | SECRETARY 214-821-6324

DIRECTORS

Andrea Brashier 214-384-4605

Lilia Estrada 214-874-3259

Michelle Foreman 214-394-2487

David Jones 214-300-1894

Ken Lampton 214-502-5858

Alan Schonborn 214-823-4057

USEFUL NUMBERS

Darren Dattalo | CRIME WATCH 214-476-8023

Council Member Philip Kingston 214-670-5415

DPD Officer Keith Allen 214-671-3477

Sanitation / Bulk Trash 214-670-3555

Code Compliance 214-670-5708

Animal Services Call 311

MARCH • APRIL 20156

P.O. BOX 720067• DALLAS, TX 75372

BULK TRASH DATEPICK UP: Mar 14-18 EARLIEST SET-OUT: Mar 10

PICK UP: Apr 11-15 EARLIEST SET-OUT: Apr 7

PICK UP: May 9-14 EARLIEST SET-OUT: May 5Remember: The city has a zero tolerance for placing trash out prior to the earliest set-out date. Don’t get stuck with a fine for missing the date.

LOG ON TO LGNA.NET for information and updates.

UPCOMING EVENT WHEN Tuesday, May 10 7:00 pm

WHERE Greenland Hills UMC 5835 Penrose

WHAT Appealing Your Property Taxes – DCAD

Find out what’s going on. Like Us on FACEBOOK

You’ve made it through income-tax season. Now it’s residential appraisal notice time.

Come hear how to appeal the value that DCAD has placed on your property. You’ll learn how to effectively appeal the appraised value on your home, how that value was determined, and what’s new from the State Legislature on taxation.

Cheryl Jordan, Community Relations Officer for the Dallas Central Appraisal District, will share common-sense information on how to possibly lower your tax bill. Even if you’re not a property owner, urge your landlord to attend.

Tuesday, May 10, 7:00pm at Greenland Hills UMC, 5835 Penrose.

This event is informational only. DCAD representatives cannot discuss details of specific cases.

(CONTINUED INSIDE)

Crime Reduction and Crime Prevention are two different things. The major difference is one of perspective. Crime Prevention looks at areas which are not yet troubled by much criminal activity. The perspective for Crime Reduction is areas already known for criminal activity. This can be a group of offenders who have racked up a long record of offenses. It might be a neighborhood plagued by break-ins. Or it could be a situation such as out-of-control house parties. I mention this because these issues have confronted your neighborhood and in some cases are a continuing issue.

Because crime reduction is focused on existing criminals, crime locations, and situations, it relies heavily on information or intelligence which describes those people, places, and situations. What are the patterns of criminal activity? The burglaries of motor vehicles are a perfect example. In many offenses, the vehicle is parked on the street and property inside the vehicle is taken.

Do the thieves live close? Why do the thieves stay within a few blocks of our major streets – Greenville, Matilda, and Skillman? The more information we receive, the better we can answer the questions.

Reality also dictates that we be vigilant in securing property. The weather is getting nicer with (relatively) mild days and nights. Remember to secure and lock your vehicles, garages, windows, and front/back doors. Please remind each other if you see your neighbor’s property left vulnerable.

Please provide us with any suspicious vehicle or person information. I hope you’ll stay vigilant about property crime as well as personal safety. Taking a few extra minutes to implement home safety tips could save many hours of frustration.

KEITH ALLEN—DALLAS POLICECRIME REDUCTION/PREVENTION

LOWEST GREENVILLE CONSTRUCTION PROGRESSIt’s getting more and more difficult to navigate Greenville Avenue between Ross and Belmont. But we should remember that the businesses that have helped to create the Lowest Greenville renaissance are still open for business and need neighborhood patronage.

In early March Tim Starr, Assistant Director of Dallas Public Works, chaired a meeting for Lowest Greenville merchants with construction company representatives and City staff. Neighborhood association representatives were invited.

The construction has lost time in the past few weeks and is now 6-8 weeks behind schedule. Completion is anticipated to be in August 2016.

The Lowest Greenville construction is a complete-streets project, not just cosmetic work. Because water and sewer mains are decades old, all are being replaced. Water line installation and tie-ins are close to complete.

Sidewalk construction was held until after St. Patrick’s, and the City will coordinate with individual businesses to decide the best time to tear out the old and install new sidewalks. It’s anticipated that work may sometimes be done at night or early mornings.

After underground sewer lines, AT&T lines, and Time Warner Cable lines are installed, street paving will commence. Side streets will be closed when intersections are paved – Alta first, then Lewis.

Detours and one-way traffic on either end of the construction will begin in June and stay that way until August. Traffic will be northbound on Greenville with traffic detoured onto Matilda. Some southbound traffic may need to detour onto Summit, but the City will try to preserve the residential nature of that street.

A new stoplight will be installed at Sears but will not be operational until work is completed. The City will communicate with Oncor and property owners regarding electrical tie-ins and filling the holes left from old electrical poles.

Councilmember Philip Kingston announced that the City has funds to improve the intersection at Greenville and Ross. Kingston said that he wants to improve pedestrian, bike, and traffic safety at the intersection. “All three are bad there,” he says.

PROPERTY TAXES GETTING YOU DOWN?

show that you were paid by an employer you don’t know or if more than one tax return was filed using your Social Security number – Contact the IRS at IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit 1-800-908-4490 to report the fraud.

Send a copy of your police report or an IRS ID Theft Affidavit Form 14039 and proof of your identity. When dealing with Identity theft – it’s important to first limit the potential damage before pursuing corrective action.

The annual St. Patrick’s madness has again come and gone. Problems in Lower Greenville continue to be alleviated although we continue to see crowds parking in our neighborhood in order to attend the parade on Upper Greenville. Greenville Avenue itself continues to experience a large amount of disruption.

This year there were complaints of trash and litter remaining in the area north of McCommas. A new clean-up crew assumed that the trash was the responsibility of businesses in that area. Responsibility was cleared up, and it was taken care of by Monday.

There was also confusion with 911 protocols. All 911 calls emanating from Lower Greenville — including blocked driveways — were to be forwarded to the Dallas Police command center located in the Robert E. Lee parking lot. That didn’t happen, but DPD issued an alternate telephone number which the Lower Greenville Neighborhood Association distributed to as many neighborhood residents as possible.

The block party attracted 15,000 patrons. DPD released a report on police activity in the block party area. The report does not include Lowest Greenville, Lower Greenville between McCommas and Mockingbird, or Upper Greenville.

ST. PAT’S EVENTS

STONEWALL ADDITIONS

As a move to replace modular temporary classrooms and increase the number of classrooms, Dallas Independent School District has filed an application to construct new additions to Stonewall Jackson Elementary.

Two expansion areas are planned – the existing modular area and a bump-out from the southern façade which will include part of the asphalt court area. The construction will also include improvements to the outmoded plumbing system.

Jeff Houle, the construction project manager, told LGNA that the garden area will not be impacted. Construction will start summer of 2016 with completion for fall 2017.

JAN 2016 FEB 2016

Home Break-ins 1 1

Car Break-ins 7 3

Robberies 2 1

Auto Theft 0 4

• 50 Calls • 6 Public Intoxication • 3 Investigative arrests

• 4 Citations • 223 Parking citations • 6 Vehicles towed