DON’T FORGET – EARLY VOTING STARTS ON MONDAY, APRIL 26TH.
I hope you were able to participate in one of the Bond Information Open Houses that were held today, Sunday, April 25th and that your questions were answered. It’s important to know the facts about the bond package and what it means to Richardson, to you, and to our neighborhood specifically. All kinds of information has been and is being distributed – some true, some not true, and some information that doesn’t relate to the bond package at all – so please be pro-active and investigate for yourself if you haven’t already done so.
All Richardson voters (Dallas and Collin County) can vote early at the Richardson Civic Center/City Hall or at any other early voting location in Dallas County. For this election only, Richardson residents who reside in Collin County and want to vote early must vote at the Civic Center/City Hall or one of the other Dallas County early voting locations.
Early voting dates and times:
April 26 – May 1: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
May 2: 1 – 6 p.m.
May 3 – 4: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
On Election Day (May 8), polls will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at 23 locations throughout the City. For questions about voting locations, visit www.cor.net, call the Richardson City Secretary’s office at 972-744-4292 or the Dallas County Elections Department at 214-637-7937.
WEEK IN REVIEW
The City has recently started a new weekly news series called Week In Review.
Week In Review was created to keep people up-to-date on events, projects and services occurring in our community. It is delivered each Friday through the City’s News & Information e-mail service located atwww.cor.net. A link to the newsletter is also available on the City’s Web site home page.
Those who are interested in receiving future versions are encouraged to sign-up using the City’s News & Information e-mail service.
ANOTHER SCAM…INFORMATION FROM OFFICER JOHN CORBITT
Crimefighters– We received information from SMU Police Department describing an area “baseball trip” scam . Solicitors have been door to door in University Park, Highland Park, and Lakewood seeking donations or selling magazine subscriptions to benefit Children’s Medical Center and support the SMU baseball team. The solicitors may mention that a portion of the proceeds will support the SMU trip to Hawaii in May for a baseball tournament. According to SMU PD, these solicitors are not affiliated with or sponsored by SMU in any way, shape, or form. While SMU does have a baseball team, they ARE NOT out soliciting funds. THIS IS A SCAM.
Coincidentally, I heard from Cottonwood Creek neighbors about someone going doing door to door just last weekend claiming to be “new to the neighborhood,” or related to someone right down the street. They were soliciting donations for the SMU baseball trip to Hawaii. It sure sounds like the scam may be in our area now.
SMU PD has asked that any city experiencing these scams make an effort to identify and/or take enforcement action since this is not a legitimate solicitation. Waiting until the next day to report will not get these scammers identified. Call RPD right away if you are solicited by anyone using this “pitch” (no pun intended), and DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY MONEY!!!!
Officer John Corbitt
Crime Prevention Officer
(972) 744-4952
john.corbitt@cor.gov
Crime Prevention Unit— West Sector
Richardson Police Department
RICHARDSON POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS
Protect Your Property with the Richardson Police Department’s free Property Marking Program. Read about this program that helps the Police Department retrieve and return stolen property to the owner. You can get started by visiting the City’s website: www.cor.net.
OTHER STUFF
I was at an HOA Presidents’ breakfast on Tuesday, April 20th where Police Chief Jim Spivey provided the City of Richardson 2009 Crime Report and Police Activities Review. I’m happy to report that overall crime for our Heights Park area has dropped this year – and Chief Spivey attributes much of the drop in crime to the activities of the Citizen Patrollers (from all over the city). He says the presence of our volunteer patrollers is a huge deterrence to crime. I’m thankful that we have residents who will step forward and volunteer their time to help us keep safe. These volunteers are the solution—they’ve identified a need and they’re doing something about it. Thank you!
The Police Department has also brought in some part-time officers, many recently retired from other police careers, who serve as Neighborhood Police Officers. Our Heights Park Neighborhood Officer is Dan White. He’ll be patrolling our area at various times – I’ve already had reports from a couple of residents who’ve seen him. If you see him, introduce yourself – he used to be a Heights resident, too.
See specific crime statistics on the city’s website: www.cor.net/pd.
HPNA NEWSLETTER COMING SOON…
Our next issue of the HPNA Newsletter is at the printer now and will be ready for distribution next weekend (starting May 1). We’ve got lots of news for you in this issue, so please be sure to watch for it.
Things to watch for in this issue:
1. PROGRAM INFORMATION FOR THE MAY 20TH GENERAL MEETING: A LANDSCAPE DESIGNER/DEVELOPER! (mark your calendars)
2. A CONTEST!
3. BOX TOPS!
4. YARD OF THE MONTH – judges will be choosing the May winner at the end of this month – have your yards in tip-top shape! If you want to nominate a yard, you can complete a form on our Heights Park website (www.heightspark.com); click on YOM, or send an email to sdepuy@gmail.com with your nomination. Winner will be announced the first week of May.
5. CRIME PATROL APPLICATION: contact Marsha Mayo for information
6. HPNA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION; PLEASE PAY YOUR 2010 DUES IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY ($15/YEAR)
Enough for now – I hope to see you on Thursday, May 20th at our next General Meeting – First United Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall; 7:00 p.m.
As always, if you have questions or concerns, please contact me or any of the HPNA board members.
Janet DePuy
President
HPNA
214.282.6921