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Black Willows

February 2015.
Reflecting on the accidental loss of Dallas’ State Champion Black Willow (DMN February 3), we can appreciate the special qualities of the Black Willows that have thrived for years in the Joe’s Creek corridor: natives and champions regardless of size.  Although many are now aging, these Willows feature a dense and tenacious root system that holds fast against erosion of the creek’s banks. Wildlife, including the Red Bellied Woodpecker, and other species, including the Ladder Backed, seem to be drawn to these trees, perhaps more so when the trees are showing signs of age, or storm or insect damage. The fast growth and typically short life, the soft breakable wood, the shallow extensive root system that make the tree less desirable in a residential landscape, become advantages along the creek.  Every tree does not have to have the endurance of the oaks or long life of the bald cypress to be an important part of the environment.

 According to Texas Trees, a Friendly Guide,  published 1988 by Paul W. Cox and Patty Leslie, Black Willows were used in weaving baskets, wicker furniture, and Indians made an infusion from the bark, to alleviate aches and pains – the bark contains an ingredient found in aspirin. Black Willows can be grown easily from a cutting. “One can take a live willow branch, press it into the mud, and watch it grow.” We might try just that. 

Future Champions? These probable Black Willow shoots are now coming up along the creek’s edge. Let’s give them their chance to grow and mature – that is, do not remove!

See Texas Trees, a Friendly Guide for more comments on the Black Willow and excellent descriptions and background for so many of our Texas natives. This book is available from amazon.com, alibris.com and the Dallas Public Library.From

Vince Punaro & Rebecca Bergstresser

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NPNA Annual Neighborhood Backyard Garden Tour

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the tour?

A: The tour is a 3-hour event, being held on Saturday, April 9, 2016 from 9 a.m. to Noon in Northaven Park (border streets: Marsh/Midway and Forest/Royal) where neighbors can showcase their backyards, socialize with other neighbors and inspire creativity in our neighborhood.

Q: Who can attend?

A: The tour is open to all neighbors in Northaven Park, their families and their friends.

Q: How much does it cost?

A: This is a free event for our neighborhood and is sponsored by the Northaven Park Neighborhood Association (NPNA). We will be accepting donations from visitors to offset the costs of the event.

Q: If I volunteer to showcase my yard, what do I need/have to do?

A: The committee will station volunteers in front of your home to meet/greet the tour visitors and manage/instruct the traffic flow to your backyard on the day of the event. As the homeowner, you (or your representative) will need to be available while visitors are touring your yard. Remember, one of the main reasons for the tour is to socialize with our neighbors, and provide the opportunity to share the outdoor creativity and the experiences of creating your backyard spaces.

Q: Do I need to provide refreshments?

A: No. If you want to provide refreshments, you are certainly welcome to do so.

Q: How are you communicating the event?

A: In addition to the ‘good ole’ word of mouth route, we are utilizing several communication tools available to the neighborhood, including the NPNA monthly newsletters, multiple email blasts to Northhaven Park email listings, NPNA Facebook, Nextdoor Northaven Park, announcements at NPNA events and committee meetings. Street signage will be utilized prior to the event date, and maps of the neighborhood with showcased home addresses identified will be distributed on the day of the event. Please note event is for our neighborhood so all the publications/advertisements will only be shared with residents inside Northaven Park.

Q: Ok, I’m interested in showcasing my home. What do I need to do now?

A: Given the tour will have a limited number of yards, as soon as possible, contact Kiki Paschall (11123 Cinderella Lane) at beautification@npna.org or call 214-357-4797.

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Telephone Scam

A resident of Northaven Park recently reported receiving an unsolicited phone call  from a Microsoft technician claiming that her computer had a virus.

If you receive a similar call, hang up. Do not give the caller any personal information.

This scam or a variation of it has been floating around for almost as many years as the Nigerian money transfer scam, and it is still going strong.

How the scam works: A caller, claiming to be a representative of Microsoft, one of its brands or a third party contracted by Microsoft, tells you he is checking into a computer problem, infection or virus that has been detected by Microsoft. He tells you he can help and may direct you to a website that then allows him to take remote control of your computer. After demonstrating where the “problems” are, he will try to convince you to pay a fee to repair the problems. Of course, he will want your credit card or bank account information.

Treat all unsolicited phone calls with skepticism.
Do not provide any personal information.

Snopes.com has more information about the Microsoft Impersonation Scam.
Also see Scam Alerts from the FTC for phone and email scams.

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Wildlife In the Creek

August 2014.
Encouraging recent reports of wildlife in the creek – the sounds of toads or frogs and the sight of juvenile mallards remind us of the importance of keeping the creek clean and its water unpolluted.

NPNA Creek volunteers are simply the best at periodically clearing trash and monitoring for other debris that needs to be removed. However, ordinary litter and trash remains a persistent problem. With each rain or wind storm, more washes down the storm drains to stick in branches and along the creek bed impeding the water flow.

Some neighbors have asked what more can be done to control trash and litter. Some communities have taken steps to ban plastic bags, but litter can originate from countless sources, and thus must be controlled at every source.

Let us know – What are your best ideas on this subject? Thanks for your comments, and assistance in keeping Joe’s Creek a great habitat and natural area in the neighborhood.

Vince Punaro & Rebecca Bergstresser

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Swimming Pool Water

June 5, 2014.

Uh-oh…Is that swimming pool water draining into Joe’s Creek?
Sad to say, there have been several sightings recently in our neighborhood of swimming pool water being drained to curbsides.  What’s so sad about that?  From the curb the effluent goes into storm drains and from there to Joe’s Creek.  That’s the creek where our children wade and splash and look for tadpoles.  The same creek where we enjoy watching the ducklings waddling after their moms, the dragonflies, wafting among the rocks and rushes, hunting down mosquito larva for lunch.  When pool water goes into the creek without the proper treatment to neutralize its chemicals, it can create hazards for the creek and its residents and visitors.  The chemicals spread from our neighborhood to every waterway on its trip to the Gulf of Mexico and beyond.Pool owners need to know that the City of Dallas takes draining of untreated pool  water to city streets very seriously.  Everyone in our area should know that inspectors are on-call to respond promptly to a report of improper pool draining.  The fine for violations can be as much as $2,000-not a trivial amount by any means.  Please inform your pool service companies too.

If you see pool discharges or other polluting materials such as paint or pesticides draining to curbs and storm water drains, please follow these instructions immediately:

  1. Note the address and the street names at the nearest intersection.
  2. Immediately dial 311 and wait a few seconds for the recorded message asking you to describe the problem and location, plus your contact information.  You will receive a call to confirm the report and the information, and help will soon be on the way.
Joe’s Creek is a wonderful asset to our neighborhood!  We all benefit by keeping it clean, safe and healthy.
 
Rebecca Bergstresser

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Zebra Mussels

Hello Zebra Mussels, goodbye Texas lakes.

This Memorial Day weekend, City of Dallas Water Utilities reminds you to Clean, Drain and Dry your boat! Our lakes and rivers are under attack by zebra mussels. This destructive invasive species harms aquatic life, damages boats and even affects your water supply. Lake Texoma, Ray Roberts, Lewisville, Bridgeport, Belton and Lavon are already infested, and without your help, zebra mussels could spread throughout the state.

Don’t be a carrier: Clean, Drain, Dry
Prevent the spread of zebra mussels by always following these steps:

CLEAN off any vegetation, mud or foreign objects on the boat, trailer and gear before you leave the lake. Adult zebra mussels attach to hard surfaces such as boat hulls, motors and pipes.

DRAIN all water from the boat. Zebra mussel larvae are invisible to the naked eye and can hide in the water in your motor, bilge, live wells and bait buckets.

DRY the boat and trailer for a week or more before entering another water body. It’s a surefire way to kill any remaining zebra mussels.

Visit TexasInvasives.org/ZebraMussels for more information and watch a video about Zebra Mussels here.

Thank you for doing your part to stop the spread of these destructive invaders in Texas lakes and rivers. 

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Jordan Spieth

Jordan Spieth 2When the name Jordan Spieth is mentioned, most people know who he is and what he is known for…golf!  We, in the NPNA, are privileged to call him “one of our own”.

Jordan and his mother and father moved into the NPNA area when he was one year old. At age two, we watched in amazement as he kept hitting plastic golf balls across the street into our yard with great accuracy.  He loved all sports, playing soccer, basketball and baseball, but at around nine years of age he began concentrating on golf. He asked his parents if he could dig a hole in their front yard, cut the grass around the hole extremely short and make his own putting green. All other sports dropped by the wayside as golf became his focus.

When Jordan was ten, he started entering the North Texas Junior PGA Tournaments.  He used these tournaments as stepping stones towards playing in the next level. By the time he was in the ninth grade, he was playing on the national level and on the Junior Ryder Cup Team in Scotland. By the time he finished high school, he was ranked the # 1 Amateur in the world and played on the Walker Cup Team in Scotland with the goal of one day becoming a professional.

Jordan spent his elementary schooling at St. Monica, his high school years at Jesuit and then attended the University of Texas. It was at UT where he played on the winning  team for the NCAA National Championship – after a 40 year “drought”. Shortly after this win, at the end of 2012 and age 19, he turned professional. Many of you have followed his career, watching him win the John Deere Classic, being named the 2013 PGA Rookie of the Year, the Texas Sports Personality of the Year and coming in second at the Masters.  He is now ranked # 7 in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).

He comes from a very close-knit family. Younger brother, Stephen, just finished his Freshman year at Brown University and plays basketball. His sister, Ellie, just turned thirteen, loves being a teenager and is Jordan’s inspiration. If he wins or loses, she is always there with a big hug. Jordan’s love of his family is evident in that whenever he is in town, he always drops by home for the hugs and a good home-cooked meal!

Jordan SpiethJordan is a compassionate, caring, dedicated and appreciative young man, always thanking those who have helped him. He has established the Jordan Spieth Charitable Trust which concentrates in three different  areas: Junior Golf, Special Needs Youth Programs and Wounded Warriors. If you would like to read more about these programs, go to www.jordanspiethgolf.com.

Jordan’s goal for the 2014 Season: “I’m just looking ahead. I never really did look back”. We all will “look ahead” with great interest and pride, watching this fine young man pursue his goals.

Submitted by Patty Wolfe
Section 11 Crime Leader and Neighbor
May 5, 2014

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NPNA Annual Neighborhood Backyard Garden Tour FAQ

Q: What is the tour?

A: The tour is a 3-hour event, being held April 12, 2014 in Northaven Park (border streets: Marsh/Midway and Forest/Royal) where neighbors can showcase their backyards, socialize with other neighbors and inspire creativity in our neighborhood.

Q: Who can attend?

A: The tour is open to all neighbors in Northaven Park, their families and their friends.

Q: How much does it cost?

A: This is a free event for our neighborhood and is sponsored by the Northaven Park Neighborhood Association (NPNA).

Q: If I volunteer to showcase my backyard, what do I need/have to do?

A: The committee will station volunteers in front of your home to meet/greet the tour visitors and manage/instruct the traffic flow to your backyard on the day of the event.  As the homeowner, you (or your representative) will need to be available while visitors are touring your backyard.  Remember, one of the main reasons for the tour is to socialize with our neighbors, and provide the opportunity to share your outdoor creativity and the experiences of creating your backyard spaces.

Q: Do I need to provide refreshments?

A: No, the committee will have water available.  If you want to provide anything additional, that is totally up to you.

Q: How are you communicating the event?

A: In addition to the ‘good ole’ word of mouth route, we are utilizing several communication tools available to the neighborhood, including the NPNA monthly newsletters, multiple email blasts to Northhaven Park email listings, announcements at NPNA events and committee meetings.  Street signage will be utilized prior to the event date, and maps of the neighborhood with backyard tour addresses identified will be distributed on the day of the event.

Q: OK, I’m interested in showcasing my backyard.  What do I need to do now?

A: Given the tour will have a limited number of yards, as soon as possible, contact Mike Glover (3773 Northview Ln.) at beautification@npna.org or call 214-923-1480.