The aerial photos of Fretz Park in March’s magazine were discovered by Sally Rodriguez, the Dallas Park and Recreation Department’s unofficial historian. Her actual title is coordinator for the department’s planning, design and construction division, but when she took the job 11 years ago, some of her assignments sent her digging into file cabinets and closets, where she unearthed these photos and dozens of others like them that had been stashed away and forgotten.

A Q&A with Rodriguez appeared in March’s magazine for Lake Highlands, where Rodriguez lives, and tells more about her photo finds. Don’t miss future editions of the Far North Dallas Advocate for more of Rodriguez’s discoveries.

You see them all over Far North Dallas — once pristine brick walls turned into rubble by crashing cars.

Remember the workshop held last fall, introducing neighbors to the idea of Complete Streets? We got to play around with maps and stickers and write our own little notes about what we want to see on Alpha and Meadowcreek – the two Far North Dallas streets identified for the pilot program that aims to make areas safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

The city has gathered all the feedback and presented it here on the Complete Streets website. They’ll use the information to help decide what’s best for our area.

Our March cover story (which is being delivered to homes now) tackles the issue of a bike-friendly city and what that could mean for North Dallas. We also talked to cyclists who are already out there braving our car-clogged streets on two wheels.

So, here’s what a few dozen or so neighbors think a “complete street” should  look like. The results aren’t all that surprising:

On Alpha Road, the biggest concerns (at least for those who attended the November meeting) are lighting at night, feeling safe and maintaining traffic flow. Transit, parks, bike lanes, wide sidewalks, shading and trees – all of the things that arguably make up the essence of a “complete street” – ranked low by comparison.

On Meadowcreek, the results were similar. Residents mostly care about lighting at night and feeling safe as well as calming traffic and expanding sidewalks.

Tell us: How do you think a “complete street” should be defined in Far North Dallas?

The Dallas Bike Plan and other efforts are laying the path for cycling culture and could bring our neighborhoods closer together.

After a prolonged drought, Dallas has finally received some much-needed rain over the past couple of months. Still, the city has extended Stage 1 watering restrictions into June and hasn’t ruled out moving into Stage 2.

More and more neighbors are beginning to learn the details of DART’s proposed Cotton Belt Rail Line, which is set to pass through residential areas of Far North Dallas. Still in the dark? Then be sure to attend the Cotton Belt Concerned Citizens Coalition meeting 7-9 p.m. Feb. 27 at Parkhill Junior High.

We’ve been covering this issue since August when officials revealed the trench option (a.k.a. Natinsky Plan) wouldn’t be possible in many areas of the rail line. It was the subject of our October 2011 cover story, followed by several updates on our blog, including an analysis on how much control the city really has over DART (it’s not much). Most recently, we learned more about exactly how many people could be negatively affected by the project, especially if it includes elevated roadways at major intersections.

Last week, CBS 11 News picked up the story, interviewing Tom Wood, neighborhood resident and co-chair of the CBCCC.

Financing has still not been identified for the Cotton Belt, which will cost about $1.8 billion. Relocating the rail line to another route such as along Central Expressway or LBJ would cost four to five times more, DART officials say.

Council member Sandy Greyson says that might be close to what it would cost to simply comply with the Natinsky Plan, which called for the rail line to run about 15 feet deep to alleviate noise and vibration and eliminate the need for elevated roadways. The water levels in that area would require expensive engineering solutions.

DART is working on an environmental impact study, which was scheduled to be complete by April. That has been delayed until the end of this year, says Cotton Belt project manager John Hoppie.

No DART officials will be at Monday’s meeting, however I’m told Greyson might be attending.

 Plano last week passed a law that could make streets safer for cyclists.

This caught my attention because here at the Advocate we have been working on a story about bicycle safety, commuting and the future of cycling in Dallas.

Look for it in the March issue, which should hit your doors late this week or early next (and the web on Friday).

Essentially, the bike plan could make things better for cyclists, but because of financial limitations, the plan might not come to fruition for years. Until then, we are told, we need to learn the rules and exercise common sense in order to keep everyone on the road safe.

Plano has taken things a step further, enacting the safe-passing law which requires drivers to stay at least three feet away from cyclists while passing in cars or six feet when driving a truck and forbids motorists from making a right turn in front of a cyclist without leaving a safe distance between them and from throwing objects at cyclists. So, yeah, it is no longer OK to throw objects at cyclists in Plano. Is it OK anywhere? (Don’t answer that. Based on road rage-fueled comments received while researching the cycling story, I really don’t want to know everyone’s thoughts on that.)

Denton and Fort Worth have already enacted a similar safety ordinance. Dallas? Not yet.

Council member Sandy Greyson already gave us the rundown on the city’s proposed 2012 bond program as part of our monthly Notes from City Hall feature. We know this bond program is much smaller than those in past years and each council member is working to make sure their districts get something out of it.

In Far North Dallas, the main concern will likely be alleys. They’re a major part of the infrastructure up here, and they’re in poor shape.

Greyson will host community meetings to get neighbors’ input. The first is 7-8:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at Campbell Green Recreation Center. If you miss that one, there are two more:

7-8:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at Timberglen Recreation Center

7-8:30 p.m. March 1 at Renner Frankford Library

Each month, the Advocate talks with District 12 council member Sandy Greyson about issues being discussed Downtown and how they affect Far North Dallas. This month’s discussion: The 2012 bond program.

How’s the crime rate in Far North Dallas? What’s the latest on the Valley View redevelopment? And when will Fretz Park Recreation Center finally re-open? These questions and more will be answered at two important meetings this week. Both are being held in the community room of the North Central Station.

The North Central Division hosts its quarterly crime watch meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Ed Fox, crime watch extraordinaire and P.E.N.A. West resident, will give an update on Volunteers in Patrol. Officer Mark Lutz will present some stats, comparing 2010 and 2011. Our area has actually seen the largest crime decrease in the city. Finally, Senior Cpl. D.J. Beaty will provide some insight on how police are using social media, which is quite timely considering that was the subject of our January cover story.

Have breakfast with council members Linda Koop (District 11) and Sandy Greyson (District 12) 7:30-9 a.m. Thursday and learn how important city hall issues will affect our neighborhoods. Topics will include the Complete Streets Initiative and bike plan, water restrictions and flow control. There also will be an update on the Fretz Park Recreation Center, which has been under renovation for many months now, and the plan for redeveloping the Valley View area.

Richardson High grad Courtney Parmalee and Lake Highlands grad Madison Barnes first met when they arrived on the Oklahoma University campus in 2010. When the sorority sisters and best buds heard that Khloe Kardashian would be making an appearance in Dallas over Christmas break, they knew there’d be no crowd too large or temps too cold to keep them from meeting the reality-star. Here’s what Courtney (pictured in the photo) shared about the experience:

I heard about Khloe’s Toy Drive on the news late Tuesday night and I immediately called to wake up Madison. “I’ll be at your house at 9! We’re going to meet Khloe!” I yelled into the phone. Each fan was asked to donate a new toy for Children’s Medical Center in exchange for pictures or autographs, so after making a quick trip to Target we waited in line for 3 hours outside of Dallas City Hall. It was definitely cold but the picture made it worth it!

It seems like every time Madison and I turn on our TV, one of the many Kardashian reality shows is playing. (In fact, everyone in line had to sign a waiver in case we are featured on their reality show, Khloe and Lamar.) We have both become fans this year but Khloe has always been our favorite because she is certainly the most down-to-earth and seems to have a positive and a hilarious personality. When Madison told me Lamar Odom, Khloe’s husband, had been traded to the Mavs, we both started screaming. When it was finally our turn to shake her hand, we both told her how happy we are that Dallas is her new home and wished Lamar and the Mavericks another great season. Khloe seemed to be very grateful for the turnout.

Each month, the Advocate talks with District 12 council member Sandy Greyson about issues being discussed Downtown and how they affect Far North Dallas. This month’s discussion: Complete Streets.