Topic: Safety and Security

Please mark your calendars for Fort Worth’s first celebration of “Texans Against Crime” to be held Tuesday night, October 14, 2008!

Designed much like the national August evening event we have participated in during past years, Texans will come together throughout the state to announce to criminals that they are not welcome in Texas!

With the cooler weather in October, the citizens of Fort Worth are encouraged to start planning your evening event to bring together your neighbors in a social atmosphere to unite in our fight against crime!

For more information go to:

http://www.texansagainstcrime.org/movingaway.htm

A POLICE AND CITIZEN PARTNERSHIP TO

Make a Difference In Our Neighborhoods

The Fort Worth Police Department Presents:

A PARTNERSHIP FOR A SAFER COMMUNITY

May 20, 2008

7:00 pm-8:00 pm

(Police and volunteers will stay until 9:00 pm to answer any questions)

North Fort Worth Baptist Church

6600 N. Frwy

Fort Worth, TX 76137

COME LEARN ABOUT THE CITIZENS ON PATROL PROGRAM AND HOW YOU CAN BE A PART OF A PROVEN SOLUTION TO KEEP A LID ON CRIME. THIS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PROGRAM HAS BEEN NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AND HAS PROVEN VERY EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING CRIME. THE POLICE TRAIN AND EQUIP YOU TO BE ADDITIONAL EYES AND EARS FOR THEM AS YOU PATROL IN YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD AND CALL IN SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY ON A NON-CONFRONTATIONAL BASIS.

For More Information Contact

North Policing District 4 @ 817-392-4690

Thank you!

The Woodland Springs Code Blue Volunteers will be hosting National Night Out on Tuesday August 7th from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm. Please join us as we host this picnic event at the main amenity center at Woodland Springs Dr. and Park Vista.

National Night Out is a crime awareness outreach affiliated with the local police departments to gather neighbors to help fight crime. Our Code Blue Group has hosted an event for several years as a block party. This year we would like to reach the community by having a picnic in the park.

All residents are welcome to attend. We plan on many city and state officials that represent our area of Fort Worth to attend, as well as city departments like Graffiti Abatement and the Fort Worth Police and Fire Departments.

Please join us as we band together as a community to help fight crime.

The 5 pools in the Villages of Woodland Springs will open on Friday May 4, 2007. You must have a VOWS issued RF card to gain access to the pools and bathrooms.

The main pool is located at the on-site management office on the corner of Park-Vista and Woodland Springs Drive (MAP).

The second pool is on the corner of Bray Birch and Vienna Apple road (MAP).

The third pool is on Old Denton road and Timberland drive (MAP).

The fourth pool is the Macaroon pool. Directions: From Keller Hicks Road go North on Alta Vista Road. Turn right on Rum Street and then take the next right on Macaroon Lane. Follow it around a couple of curves and the pool is right there (MAP).

Directions to the fifth pool in our community: from Alta Vista Road go East on Kenny Drive. Turn right on Wild Pear Lane and then follow it around to the end and the new pool is right there (MAP).

The RF ID system is currently installed at all the pool locations. Information about how to get your pool RF ID card is available at the on-site office. The pool rules are listed on this website under Additional Information > Pool Rules.

Be safe and have a happy pool season.

Lighting fireworks and sparklers this July 4 may seem harmless, but extreme drought conditions have resulted in new policies that could burn you if you try.

Setting or even possessing fireworks within 5,000 feet of Fort Worth city limits is a Class C misdemeanor with fines of up to $2,000.

In addition, most other local cities have similar restrictions on the use of fireworks, and the Tarrant County Fire Marshal has banned them in all unincorporated areas. Many of the surrounding counties also have enacted fireworks bans due to the dangerously dry conditions.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Check with your local city and/or county for specific laws pertaining to your area.

In the hands of amateurs, fireworks can cause property damage and injuries. Last year, the Fire Department received 1,849 fireworks-related complaint calls the week of July 4 - 1,119 on July 4 alone - and confiscated 432 pounds of fireworks. This was an increase of 7 percent from 2004.

Fire and Police personnel will be on patrol throughout the July 4 holiday period, targeting firework violations. To report a violation, call 817-922-3000.

Do not call 911!

Fireworks shows will be conducted at the following sites:

• July 2-4: Old Fashioned Family Fireworks Picnic with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Deborah Beggs Moncrief Garden Center (formerly the Fort Worth Botanic Garden), 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd.
• July 4: Fort Worth Cats, LaGrave Field
• July 4: Willie Nelson’s Fourth of July Picnic and Concert, Fort Worth Stockyards.

The scan cards have arrived.

Homeowners can go to the on-site office to pick up their scan card. To expedite the process, homeowners are asked to download and print this form, fill it out and bring it with you.

VWS ID Card Form (PDF).

Brand new homeowners will need to bring in their settlement statement.

The on-site office will be extending their hours the month of May as follows:

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday they will be open from 9:00 am until 7:00 pm. and every Saturday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm..

The 4 pools in the Villages of Woodland Springs opened on Friday May 5, 2006. A fifth pool is scheduled to be opened this summer. The main pool is located at the on-site management office on the corner of Park-Vista and Woodland Springs Drive (MAP). The second pool is on the corner of Bray Birch and Vienna Apple road (MAP). The third pool is on Old Denton road and Timberland drive (MAP).

Directions to the fourth and newest pool in our community: from Keller Hicks Road go North on Alta Vista Road. Turn right on Rum Street and then take the next right on Macaroon Lane. Follow it around a couple of curves and the new pool is right there.

The RF ID system is currently being installed at all the pool locations. Information about how to get your pool RF ID card will be available shortly. The pool rules are listed on this website under Additional Information > Pool Rules.

Be safe and have a happy pool season.

’Tis the season to be jolly, but it’s also the season to be safe, especially where decorative lighting and fireplaces are concerned. The Fort Worth Fire Department offers the following tips to help you safely enjoy the holiday season:

Lights

• Both indoor and outdoor lights should bear the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) label.
  
  
• Make sure lights are safe by checking them for damage as you remove them from storage. Check for such things as exposed wires, loose prongs and cracked or broken sockets. Repair before using, or discard.
  
  
• Use indoor lights inside, outdoor lights outside.
  
  
• Before decorating with lights, sets should be checked for smoking and melting by placing on a non-flammable surface and plugging in for 10 to 15 minutes. Careful packing and unpacking will avoid damage to lights and wiring.
  
  
• Indoor lights should be securely attached to trees. Bulbs should not be in direct contact with needles or branches.
  
  
• Outdoor lights should be waterproof and fastened securely to trees or structures to prevent wind damage.
  
  
• Avoid overloading extension cords or light strings. There should be no more then three sets of lights on an extension cord. Do not connect large light sets through miniature light sets.
  
  

Fireplaces

• Before lighting a fire, make sure the flue is open. Also, remove all debris in the fireplace.
  
  
• Do not use the fireplace as an incinerator. Greenery can burn rapidly, throwing off sparks. Burning wrappings and packaging can create a “flash fire” as well as produce toxic fumes in poorly ventilated fireplaces.
  
  
• Never use gasoline or other flammable liquids to start or restart a blaze. Invisible vapors can cause an explosion. Use wood and matches. Remember to keep matches out of reach of children.
  
  
• Keep a screen in front of the fireplace while in use to prevent flying sparks from igniting carpet or nearby objects. Do not leave a fire unattended.
  
  
• If using artificial logs, follow package instructions carefully. For instance, do not “break open” logs as it will create a large and extremely hot fire. Also, manufacturers of some metal modular fireplaces do not recommend use of artificial logs because of the intense heat produced. Check your particular fireplace for limitations.
  
  
• An expert should clean fireplaces once every 200 to 300 burnings to avoid a build-up of creosote, a potentially flammable by-product of combustion. Use of vacuum or chemical cleaners are not a completely effective way of removing the creosote layer. Scraping and brushing are the best methods of removing deposits. Check the Yellow Pages under “Chimney” for professional help.
  
  
• Keep a fire extinguisher handy at all times.
  
  
• Before closing the flue, make sure fire has died completely.
  
  
• Be careful in wearing loose, flowing clothing near fireplaces and other open flames.
  
  
• Be sure to have a working smoke detector on every level of your home.

These local homeowners are making a very personal effort to assist the victims of hurricane Katrina. We received the following letter on September 1st and have received permission to re-print it here. The need in Dallas/Fort Worth alone has risen to 15,000 to 25,000 homeless people. If you would like to make a very personal contribution, please read this letter:

The Macaroon Lane pool is scheduled for opening on Saturday August 6, 2005 at 10am. Directions to the fourth pool in our community from Keller Hicks Road: go North on Alta Vista Road. Turn right on Rum Street and then take the next right on Macaroon Lane. Follow it around a couple of curves and the new pool is right there. Please remember to bring your homeowner ID badges as a Pool Monitor will be on duty. Be safe and have a happy pool season.

Guardians must be Vigilant

Drowning is a quick and silent killer. In fact, children can drown in seconds making persistent supervision a must around any body of water.















On average, 18 Tarrant County residents drown each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for every person who drowns, three receive emergency care for submersion injuries. Non-fatal incidents can cause brain damage resulting in long-term disabilities including memory problems, learning disabilities and permanent loss of basic functions.

"Water safety involves supervision, a safe environment, proper gear and education," explained Barbara Murph, Fort Worth outreach manager. "Supervision cannot be every once in a while, it must be relentless. Kids want to be active and enjoy swimming; but as guardians, it is our responsibility to make sure they do it safely."

Fecal contamination has become a big problem at all The Villages of Woodland Springs swimming pools this season. There has been a half-dozen days where the pools were closed down for decontamination already this season. The decontamination process cost the HOA in excess of $380 for each incident and requires the pool to be shut down for 24 hours. Fecal contamination is a very serious health risk. See this document on risks from Fecal Contamination.

Due to the dramatic increase in swimming pool contaminations in VOWS, it is important to point out Pool Rule #13 which states: "13. For the health and safety of the residents, waterproof swim pants (as supplementary protection) are required for all non-toilet trained children."

DFW International Airport will conduct a major disaster exercise on June 7, 2005. This exercise is required by federal law to test the efficiency of the Airport Emergency Plan.

Volunteers will be needed to simulate victims in an aircraft incident. Those who volunteer will need to be available from 5:30 am to approximately 12 noon on June 7th. Please visit our website at Mock Disaster Drill for more information.

"They call up and offer to help and they scare you, and it sounds very official," said Patty C. The person on the other line claims to be with Visa or Mastercard, and claims he works with the credit card's security and fraud department.

(He'll say), "Here's the case number. Here's my badge number. I'm the fraud investigation officer,"

The new pool season is quickly approaching and there has been some discussion among the homeowners and the Advisory Committee about pool rules. The current pool rules (click the "Additional Resources > Pool Rules" link above) state that:

CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 14 MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER.

Many of the problems reported in past years were a result of unsupervised teenagers at the pools. We are currently doing a survey (see "Poll" right) to see if this minimum age should be changed. Please take a minute to express your opinion (you must be logged-in to vote). Your opinion counts and the Advisory Committee will review the outcome of this poll.

Street lights in VOWS which are not functioning need to be reported to the city for repair. Fran Kubesh of VOWS "Code Blue" has provided the following useful information.

WHERE TO CALL: While TPW is responsible for maintenance of city streets and signage, the street lights in VOWS are maintained by Tri-County Electric Cooperative Inc -

(817) 431-1541

- Keller District, Keller, TX 76248

You can still call TPW and report a street light and they will pass it on:

24-hour Customer Service Numbers are:
817-871-7738 Direct number that will connect you to those who can help or
817-392-8100 Operator assistance to report street lights not working
817-392-6596 To request new street lights

We are sorry to report that there have been numerous instances of hoodlums inflicting damage on the VOWS amenity centers. It is unclear whether the violators live within the Villages of Woodland Springs or elsewhere.