Congressman Veasey’s Immigration Town Hall, Saturday, January 28th, 10:30 AM
jrbraddick
Enjoy a family, fun atmosphere and meet your neighbors for a casual, social night out! Learn about the plans for our Mardi Gras float, and ways you can volunteer to help! Appetizers provided by KHCD.
December 15, 2016
6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
1300 W Davis St, Dallas, Texas 75208
Neighbor and local Oak Cliff advocate Amy Cowan posted this to her Facebook yesterday about the Nazariean family’s request to create a new sub district in PD830’s zoning. The hearing is today at 1:30 pm at City Hall.
Here are some past stories about the project to get you caught up:
http://oakcliff.advocatemag.com/2014/09/seven-things-know-40-million-bishop-arts-project/
http://oakcliff.advocatemag.com/2014/10/board-approves-5-million-bishop-arts-project/
Halloween in Kings Highway
Street Changes
Our neighborhood has seen it’s share of changes to other surrounding communities lately. From the Bishop Arts and Tyler Davis District’s commercial growth, to the interstates surrounding Oak Cliff, both are seeing huge changes, and now the bordering arterial streets W. Davis St. and Tyler/Polk will see significant repair and reconfiguration.
Tyler St. / Polk St. Two-Way Conversion
In September, after more than 2 years of planning and countless public meetings, the city passed a change to the cities thoroughfare plan on Tyler and Polk St. from Canty to 12th. An idea that came out of the first Better Block project on Tyler St., the street grid will be put back to it’s original design as a two-way street, and will include a propsed traffic circle at Winston and Tyler/Polk, bicycle lanes on Polk St., and an attention to public safety. The project will be funded from 2006 city bond funds to upgrade the street lights, stripping and creating the traffic circle. Construction should being in 2017.
W. Davis St. Sidewalk Repair
Current apocalyptic sidewalk
After TIF funded repairs in front of the Kessler Theatre
Have you ever tried to walk down to your favorite Bishop Arts restaurant along W. Davis St? Or for that matter pushed a stroller or taken a wheelchair? For the past 3 years, the city of Dallas has been working on a plan to change how we look at W. Davis. St. Formerly a small section of the original trans-continental highway 80, it’s a shadow of it’s form self. Broken or missing sidewalks, crumbling cement, narrow, and impassable all describe the current state of most of the street from Zang to Montclair. However, you only have to look at the block of W. Davis St. from Clinton to Winnetka to see what this entire area will look like soon. That block underwent repair in 2014 when the owner of the Kessler Theatre, Edwin Cabiness received Davis Garden TIF funds for widening the sidewalk, landscaping, and bicycle parking. This project will simply restitch the sidewalk network back together as well as existing driveways. The more we can create a better walk-able environment, the better our community will be. Construction should be being in early 2017.
New Crosswalk at Canty and Tyler Connecting Kidd Springs Park
The crosswalk at Canty and Tyler St. recently reappeared after years of fading and neglect by the city. New plans to upgrade the Kidd Springs swimming pool, heard calls from several neighbors that the crosswalk needed to be restripped. Most people barely seethe pedestrian yellow signs calling for traffic to slow down, but now there’s a brand new crosswalk helping pedestrians feel a bit safer when crossing this treacherous crossing. Once the new traffic circle gets installed and traffic is diverted back to two-ways, the speeds should fall further thus making it feel safer to cross Tyler St.
Before New Crosswalk
After with New Crosswalk
Kings Highway Celebrates National Night Out, October 4th, 6:00-8 PM
Kings Highway Conservation District is hosting a neighborhood National Night Out, October 4th 6-8 pm. Walk, bike or drive over to Polk St and Turner Ave for free food and fun. Meet your neighbors and our special guest, Sheriff Lupe Valdez and our law enforcement officers. A bounce house will be provided and free hot dogs from KHCD, as well as we ask you to bring a side dish if you so desire. Ask questions at https://www.facebook.com/khcdoakcliff/ or email communications@kingshwy.org
Pet Over-population: How you can help!
The US has a staggering problem with pet overpopulation. Every year, our shelters euthanize between 3-4 million pets. The DFW metroplex alone euthanized almost 200,000 last year. This means that euthanasias in Dallas comprise 5-7% of the US total. Staggering.
If you have picked up a stray animal recently and made the calls – you know how overcrowded shelters and rescue groups are right now. Everyone seems to be at maximum capacity. This is not a problem that we can solve by increasing shelter size. We must focus on population control.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
- SPAY/NEUTER YOUR PET ALL STRAYS
- ADOPT FROM SHELTERS/RESCUE GROUPS
SPAY/NEUTER
As the medical director and an active board member with The Spay Neuter Net (SNN), I am a strong advocate of pet sterilization. After learning that we may do 70-80 surgeries on a single day, my mother once asked me, “Haven’t you fixed them all yet?” This idea that there is a fixed number of intact animals illustrates the general public’s under-appreciation of the problem.
We are way behind in this race. A single cat can have up to 5 litters of kittens per year. That means that a cat could have 300 kittens if allowed to breed for a 10 year period. Staggering.
Our only chance at catching up on overpopulation is to get a handle on the number of puppies/kittens born each year. It is critical that you spay/neuter all of your pets. Every unplanned litter contributes to the problem of overpopulation.
Stray animals should also be spayed and neutered. Dogs should be re-homed or taken to a shelter. Cats are often sterilized and then re-released.
ADOPT/FOSTER
Every litter of puppies or kittens contributes to the problem of pet overpopulation. This means intentional litters from breeder as well. It is currently estimated that 25% of dogs in shelters nationwide are pure bred dogs. Our shelters are at maximum capacity and yet we continue to breed dogs and cats.
Shelters and rescue groups play an important role in helping to lower the annual euthanasia rates. Every animal that is adopted from these organizations opens a space for another dog or cat to potentially find a home.
If you are not prepared to add another permanent member to your family, you should consider fostering. Many rescue groups do not have a designated building or shelter. They are comprised of big hearted people who have opened their homes to provide transitional shelter for dogs and cats in need of a forever homes. Every fostered animal opens up another space in the shelter system.
IN CONCLUSION
We must band together and open
- Our minds to comprehending the magnitude of the problem and the importance of spay/neuter
- Our hearts and our homes to adopting or fostering animals in need
Jennifer Lavender, DVM is a veterinarian and co-owner of Metro Paws Animal Hospital, LLC (www.dallasmetropaws.com). She has been associated with The Spay Neuter Net (www.spayneuternet.org) for 10 years. This organization provided over 13,000 low cost surgeries in 2012. Her permanent pets are all rescues. When possible, she also fosters dogs for Animal Allies of Texas (www.animal alliesoftexas.org).
2nd Annual KHCD Holiday Lights Contest
In December – winners to be announced at KHCD “First Friday” social in January.
Categories include “Biggest and Brightest,” “Childrens’ Favorite,” “Best Traditional,” “Judges’ Favorite,” and “Best Block.” Judging will be by a panel comprised of KHCD board members, residents, and local business/civic leaders, with strong consideration given to results of an online neighbor poll.
Please email Events@kinghwy.org if you are interested in participating in the judging panel (participation will be limited).
So, get your Griswald on – coordinate with your neighbors and LIGHT UP our neighborhood. Watch for additional details in the first December KHCD eNewsletter.
Free Thanksgiving Dinner!
Thursday, Nov. 28th from 11am – 1pm. Norma’s Cafe will open its doors on Thursday, Nov. 28th for its 25th Annual Free Thanksgiving Dinner. The free meal giveaway to those in need will only be available at the Oak Cliff location on Davis Street. Said owner Ed Murph, “Norma’s Cafe has always had a spirit of giving back, and this annual event is one we look forward to hosting every year. Seeing the smiling faces and knowing the community is together in a spirit of thankfulness, is what this cafe is all about.” A full spread of holiday favorites will be served, including turkey and dressing, cranberry sauce, giblet gravy, mashed potatoes, English peas, salad, dinner rolls, fruit and dessert. While intended to primarily support neighbors in need, we are told that all dinners served on the 28th will be complementary … please tip most generously if you decide to have your Thanksgiving meal at Norma’s.
Norma’s traditional holiday dinners can also be ordered to go: http://www.normascafe.com/pdfs/holiday-order-form.pdf.
Thank you, Norma’s, for all your wonderful support of our community.
2014 First Friday Hosts Needed
The schedule for 2014 KHCD “First Friday” socials is being put together and quickly filling up. This is a monthly gathering of KHCD neighbors at a neighbor’s home or local restaurant. Hosts are asked to provide light snacks and beer/wine. Neighbors attending may also bring some refreshments – just ask. Currently, the following dates are open:
February 7th
April 4th
May 2nd
June 6th
December 5th
Please email Events@kingshwy.org if you are interested.
Kings Highway Conservation District 