Ever notice how most homes are designed to fit the average family, with average needs and average incomes?
But what happens if you're not average? …………..Sterling Oak is a custom home builder in the North Tarrant, South Wise and South Denton Counties. We believe that houses can be beautiful, but the owner's taste and unique selections make houses homes. And when your house reflects your personality, you feel at home.

At Sterling Oak, we want to help you create your dream home regardless of the size or your budget.At Sterling Oak each home is constructed the old-fashioned way – through quality construction and a commitment to serving our clients. It is the way homes used to be built and the way Sterling Oak builds them today - with pride and attention to detail. Yet, we rely on our state-of-the-art processes and technology to get you the best products and prices. We are committed to the highest standards in new home construction.

That is why we are designated as a Graduate Master Builder by the National Association of Home Builders and a Texas Star Builder by the State of Texas.

Our goal is to build a home you will love every day you live there.We offer innovative designs that are not only flexible, but can reflect your distinctive tastes. And if you want to start from scratch, we can do that as well.We urge you to visit any one of our models and compare us to those of other builders. Once you do, we're confident that you will discover the unbeatable value Sterling Oak offers.

Gary M. Schecter
President

Real Estate Financial News

We’ve reached a juncture in the credit markets where it really doesn’t matter how low interest rates go -- banks are refusing to lend and consumers either have no desire to borrow – or they are in such troubled financial straits they can’t meet the qualification criteria for a loan.

So what’s the Fed to do?

Many believe the Fed will announce in their post-meeting statement tomorrow afternoon (2:15 p.m. ET) that the answer to rekindling economy growth is actually quite simple – print money like crazy.

In a nutshell the idea here is that by flooding the economy with money – banks will ultimately find themselves bursting at the seams with capital – and they will essentially have no other option than to start lending.

As the short-term credit market swings back into action, business confidence will rise, employment will improve and the engines of commerce will roar back to life.

Silver Oak Mortgage
Lisa Warren
Branch Manager
751 E Southlake Blvd Ste 100
Southlake, TX 76092
office 817-410-2518
fax 817-410-2519

Real Estate News

Daily Real Estate News December 12, 2008

Are Some Owners Purposefully Falling Behind?

Housing experts are growing increasingly alarmed that programs to bail out troubled home owners might have the unintended consequence of encouraging people to miss mortgage payments in order to qualify for easier loan terms.

Such initiatives typically require that borrowers be 60 to 90 days late on payments to get a mortgage reworked.

In an attempt to prevent abuses, lenders are scrutinizing home owners' financial status--by poring over tax records, pay stubs, investment accounts, and bank statements--to determine if they really need a loan modification to avoid foreclosure.

Source: USA Today, Stephanie Armour (12/10/08)

Extreme Makeover: Keller, TX 76248

http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/12/08/extreme-makeover-house-revealed/

The tentative Build Schedule (all times subject to change):
* Monday, December 8: Knock Day. Media may arrive at 3:45 p.m. for a press conference with the family at 4:00PM is planned for approximately
* at the home site location, 2880 Keller Hicks Road, Keller, TX 76248. Please note: the street will be closed, and security will instruct media members where to park.
* Wednesday, December 10: Braveheart Walk to kickoff of the build. Media check-in is at 8:00AM; Braveheart Walk at approximately 9:00AM. Braveheart Speech by Steve Wall will follow the walk, then demolition will begin immediately thereafter.
* Thursday, December 11: Framing throughout the day, followed by non-stop building for the next several days and nights.
* Monday, December 15: House Reveal, also known as the time for “Move that Bus!”
* Tuesday, December 16: Press Conference at new home. Time for Press Conference will be announced later.

Posted on December 8th, 2008 11:06am by Tim Rogers
Filed under Entertainment, Media, Real Estate, Television

Clich here Addison Latest News for Local Events, Community Corner, Groups & Organizations, Shops $ Services, Videos and more....all about Addison.

Treasury Department Considers Plan to Lower Mortgage Rates

Financial industry lobbyists are urging the Treasury Department to take steps to lower rates on 30-year mortgages to 4.5 percent.

WASHINGTON -- Financial industry lobbyists are urging the Treasury Department to take steps to lower mortgage rates and help stabilize the battered U.S. housing market.

Under one proposal, Treasury would seek to lower the rate on a 30-year mortgage to 4.5 percent by purchasing mortgage-backed securities from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Scott Talbott, chief lobbyist at the Financial Services Roundtable, said Wednesday.

If enacted, such a plan would be an unprecedented opportunity for anyone with good credit and a solid income who could qualify for a mortgage at the lowest rates on records dating to the early 1960s, said Keith Gumbinger, senior vice president at financial publisher HSH Associates.
"You would have the mother of all re-fi booms," said mortgage industry consultant Howard Glaser.

The goal of the industry's proposal would be to take advantage of the unusually large difference, or spread, between mortgage rates and yields on government debt. On Wednesday, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note yield sank as low as 2.65 percent, while the national average rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgages was 5.75 percent, according to HSH Associates.

In recent years, there has been about a 1.8 percentage point difference between the yield on a 10-year Treasury note and a 30-year mortgage rate, but that spread currently hovers around 3 percentage points.

Analysts said that the government could use its ability to borrow money at low rates to in essence flood the market for mortgage-backed securities. This increased demand would tend to push down the yield on mortgage securities sold by Fannie and Freddie, which now average about 5.5 percent because of investor concerns about default risks. Once those yields fall, the theory goes, lower mortgage rates should follow.
That would have two benefits for the economy: Immediately adding money to the pocketbooks of homeowners who can refinance their mortgages and reduce their monthly payments, and eventually help arrest the slide in home prices since much lower mortgage rates would allow more potential buyers to qualify for loans.

"The goal is drive mortgage rates so low that home prices not only stop falling but begin to rebound," said Greg McBride, senior financial analyst at Bankrate.com.

If the government does buy up mortgage securities, it would be similar to the effort announced last week by the Federal Reserve to purchase up to $500 billion of mortgage-backed securities from Fannie and Freddie. The two mortgage giants, which were seized by federal regulators in September, own or guarantee about half of the $11.5 trillion in U.S. outstanding home loan debt.

The Fed, however, did not announce a specific target for mortgage rates, which plunged about a half percentage point after the announcement.
That caused new mortgage applications to more than double last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's weekly survey released Wednesday. Refinance volume more than tripled, and made up for nearly 70 percent of all applications.
Still, the industry plan is not likely to help borrowers whose credit is so damaged that banks don't want to lend to them.

"It doesn't do anything to help all the borrowers facing foreclosures," said Guy Cecala, publisher of Inside Mortgage Finance, a trade publication. "It's going to benefit the people who have equity in their home, who have decent credit and can refinance." Treasury is considering several options, and could announce a decision as early as next week, industry sources said.
Treasury spokeswoman Brookly McLaughlin said she would not comment on speculation about actions the department may take in the future.

The proposal was reported Wednesday afternoon on The Wall Street Journal's Web site.
Treasury could make such a proposal as part of a request for the second $350 billion of the $700 billion financial rescue fund, industry sources said.

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has been criticized by members of Congress for using the bailout money to shore up Wall Street banks, while not doing enough to help homeowners facing foreclosure.

In recent weeks, a diverse set of industry groups from real estate agents to carpet makers have called on lawmakers and the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama to subsidize lower mortgage rates and beef up tax credits to help stimulate housing demand.

The National Association of Realtors has been pushing a plan under which the federal government would spend $50 billion to lower mortgage rates. It says doing so would yield about 500,000 more home sales.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Home Builders is leading a new "Fix Housing First" coalition to push for aid to the ailing housing sector, including a tax credit of up to $22,000 for anyone who buys a home before the end of 2009.

Click here to read more in The Wall Street Journal.


Lisa Warren
Branch Manager
751 E Southlake Blvd Ste 100
Southlake, TX 76092
office 817-410-2518
fax 817-410-2519

First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance


The tax credit is available for first-time home buyers only.

The maximum credit amount is $7,500.

The credit is available for homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and before
July 1, 2009.

Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.

The tax credit works like an interest-free loan and must be repaid over a 15-year period.


NAHB is providing the information on this web site for general guidance only. The information on this site does not constitute the provision of legal advice, tax advice, accounting services, investment advice, or professional consulting of any kind nor should it be construed as such. The information provided herein should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional tax, accounting, legal, or other competent advisers. Before making any decision or taking any action on this information, you should consult a qualified professional adviser to whom you have provided all of the facts applicable to your particular situation or question. None of the tax information on this web site is intended to be used nor can it be used by any taxpayer, for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. The information is provided "as is," with no assurance or guarantee of completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose.
1201 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-266-8200
800-368-5242

Copyright © 2008 National Association of Home Builders. All rights reserved.

Exterior Door Selection and Installation

New exterior doors often fit and insulate better than older types. If you have older doors in your home, replacing them might be a good investment, resulting in lower heating and cooling costs. If you're building a new home, you should consider buying the most energy-efficient doors possible.

When selecting doors for energy efficiency, it's important to first consider their energy performance ratings in relation to your climate and home's design. This will help narrow your selection.

Types of Doors

One common type of exterior door has a steel skin with a polyurethane foam insulation core. It usually includes a magnetic strip (similar to a refrigerator door magnetic seal) as weatherstripping. If installed correctly and if the door is not bent, this type of door needs no further weatherstripping.

The R-values of most steel and fiberglass-clad entry doors range from R-5 to R-6 (not including the effects of a window.) For example: A 1-1/2 inch (3.81 cm) thick door without a window offers more than five times the insulating value of a solid wood door of the same size.

Glass or "patio" doors, especially sliding glass doors, lose heat much faster than other types of doors because glass is a very poor insulator. Most modern glass doors with metal frames have a thermal break, which is a plastic insulator between inner and outer parts of the frame. Models with several layers of glass, low-emissivity coatings, and/or low-conductivity gases between the glass panes are a good investment, especially in extreme climates. Over the long run, the additional cost is paid back many times over in energy savings. When buying or replacing patio doors, keep in mind that swinging doors offer a much tighter seal than sliding types.

Also, with a sliding glass door, it's impossible to stop all the air leakage around the weatherstripping and still be able to use the door. Also, after years of use, the weatherstripping wears down so air leakage increases as the door ages. If the manufacturer has made it possible to do so, you can replace worn weatherstripping on sliding glass doors.

Installation

When you buy a door, it will probably be a pre-hung frame. Pre-hung doors usually come with wood or steel frames. You will need to remove an existing door frame from the rough opening before you install a pre-hung door. The door frame must be as square as possible, so that the door seals tightly to the jamb and swings properly.

Before adding the interior trim, apply an expanding foam caulking to seal the new door frame to the rough opening and threshold. This will help prevent air from getting around the door seals and into the house. Apply carefully, especially with a wood frame, to avoid having the foam force the frame out of square.

If needed, you'll also want to add weatherstripping. Check the weatherstripping on your exterior doors annually to see if it needs replacement.
Storm Doors

Adding a storm door can be a good investment if your existing door is old but still in good condition. However, adding a storm door to a newer, insulated door is not generally worth the expense since you won't save much more energy.

Storm door frames are usually made of aluminum, steel, fiberglass, or wood (painted or not). Wooden storm doors require more maintenance than the other types. Metal-framed storm doors might have foam insulation within their frames.

High-quality storm doors use low-emissivity (Low-E) glass or glazing. Some doors have self-storing pockets for the glass in summer, and an insect screen for the winter. Some have fixed, full length screens and glass panels that slide out of the way for ventilation. Others are half screen and half glass, which slide past each other. Some are removable for cleaning, others are not. All of these features add some convenience and higher costs.

Never add a glass storm door if the exterior door gets more than a few hours of direct sun each day. The glass will trap too much heat against the entry door and possibly damage it.

Storm doors for patio doors are hard to find but they are available. Adding one to a new, multi-glazed, Low-E door is seldom economic. Insulated drapes, when closed for the night in the winter (or on sunny days in the summer) are also a good idea.
Weatherstripping

You can use weatherstripping in your home to seal air leaks around movable joints, such as windows or doors. To determine how much weatherstripping you will need, add the perimeters of all windows and doors to be weatherstripped, then add 5%–10% to accommodate any waste. Also consider that weatherstripping comes in varying depths and widths. Before applying weatherstripping in an existing home, you need to do the following (if you haven't already):
Detect air leaks
Assess your ventilation needs for indoor air quality.
Selection

You need to choose a type of weatherstripping that will withstand the friction, weather, temperature changes, and wear and tear associated with its location. For example, when applied to a door bottom or threshold, weatherstripping could drag on carpet or erode as a result of foot traffic. Weatherstripping in a window sash must accommodate the sliding of panes—up and down, sideways, or out. The weatherstripping you choose should seal well when the door or window is closed while allowing it to open freely.

Choose a product for each specific location. Felt and open-cell foams tend to be inexpensive, susceptible to weather, visible, and inefficient at blocking airflow. However, the ease of applying these materials may make them valuable in low-traffic areas. Vinyl, which is slightly more expensive, holds up well and resists moisture. Metals (bronze, copper, stainless steel, and aluminum) last for years and are affordable. Metal weatherstripping can also provide a nice touch to older homes where vinyl might seem out of place.

You can use more than one type of weatherstripping to seal an irregularly shaped space. Also take durability into account when comparing costs.

Application

Weatherstripping supplies and techniques range from simple to the technical. Consult the instructions on the weatherstripping package. Here are a few basic guidelines:
Measure the area to be weatherstripped twice before you cut anything.
Apply weatherstripping snugly against both surfaces. The material should compress when the window or door is shut.
When weatherstripping doors:
Choose the appropriate door sweeps and thresholds for the bottom of the doors.
Weatherstrip the entire door jamb.
Apply one continuous strip along each side.
Make sure the weatherstripping meets tightly at the corners.
Use a thickness that causes the weatherstripping to tightly press between the door and the door jamb when the door closes, without making it difficult to shut.
For air sealing windows, apply weatherstripping between the sash and the frame. The weatherstripping shouldn't interfere with the operation of the window.


Copyright © 2008 ( DFW Metro Green Consulting ) All rights Reserved.

Finance News

Finance News
Four Tips for Saving on Child Care Costs

According to the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, full–time child care can reach up to $14,000 a year for a single infant. And while child care is the last thing you want to be cheap about, there are a few proven and practical ways to limit your costs, which can really help in today's tough economy.

Let Uncle Sam Chip In – Working parents can claim up to $3,000 for one child and up to $6,000 for two or more children on their 2008 income taxes for qualified child care expenses. Ask your tax professional about the Child and Dependent Care Credit to see if you qualify for this valuable credit.

It's important to note that this credit can be reduced if you have a dependent–care flexible spending account (FSA) through your employer. These special accounts allow employees to set aside pretax dollars up to $5,000 for qualified expenses. Find out if your employer offers this program and discuss the benefits of each option with your tax preparer. If you need a referral to a qualified tax professional you can trust, don't hesitate to give us a call.

Don't Discount Your Employer – Be sure to ask your employer about any other child care programs it might offer. It's not uncommon for companies to negotiate discounts in your area that can offset expenses and travel time. Also, find out if your employer offers flex time or telecommuting, even on a short–term or part–time basis.

Schedule for Success and Savings – For many couples, a simple change in schedule can cut down on the amount of child care you need each week. While having one spouse work the day shift and the other work the night shift might eliminate child care altogether, this could be very stressful on your relationship. But what if you just altered your schedules slightly? For example, if one spouse works from 7 am to 3 pm and the other works 10 am to 6 pm, this would cut down on child care and might not affect your time together as much. For couples who work together or even close together, working the same schedule could be more beneficial to child care costs and your marriage.

The right school program combined with the right work schedule can significantly reduce your child care needs. Some public schools offer pre–kindergarten programs, often for free, and many schools also offer before– and after–school care for older children at much lower rates than child care professionals.

Share with Friends And Family – While finding a relative to help out would be ideal, hiring a nanny with a few relatives or a few good friends is also a great option. This will allow you to share the cost of child care and pay less individually for each child.

by
Lisa Warren
Southlake Branch Manager
Silver Oak Mortgage
Phone: (817) 410-2518
Fax: (817) 410-2519
lwarren@somlp.com
www.silveroakmortgagelp.com

DATES TO REMEMBER

Holiday Happenings in the area.....

Nov. 14 - Jan. 3 - ICE! and Lone Star Christmas (Grapevine)

Nov. 22 - Jan. 4 - The Trains at North Park (Dallas)

Nov. 28 - Jan. 4 - Holiday in the Park (Six Flags in Arlington)

Saturday, Nov. 22 - 3:00 to 9:00 pm

Home For the Holidays (Southlake Town Square)

Tree lighting at 6:30 pm

Saturday, Nov. 22 - 24 - www.SouthlakeFestivalofTrees.com

Friday, Nov. 28 - FW Sundance Square

2:00 to 5:30 pm - Holiday Fun Zone

6:00 to 8:00 pm - Parade of Lights and Tree Lighting

Nov. 29 - Dec. 21 - Snowflakes, Sugarplums, and SANTA! (Fort Worth)

Saturday, Nov. 29 - 6:00 to 8:00 pm

Hurst Annual Tree Lighting Spectacular

Monday, Dec. 1 - 7:00 pm

Historic downtown Grapevine Carol of Lights

Thursday, Dec. 4 - 7:00 pm

Historic downtown Grapevine Parade of Lights

Friday, Dec. 5 - 6:00 to 9:30 pm

Holly Days at Keller Town Center

Saturday, Dec. 6 - 10:00 am

Neiman Marcus Adolphus Children’s Parade Dallas

Saturday, Dec. 6 - 4:00 to 8:00 pm

NRH Night of Holiday Magic at NRH20 Family Waterpark

Saturday, Dec. 6 - dusk

Twinkle Light Parade on Grapevine Lake

Happy Holidays!!!

Foreclosure Prevention

The two secondary-mortgage-market companies are well aware of the market pain and are taking a number of steps to provide relief, particularly to prevent foreclosures.

Among other things, Freddie Mac is allowing lenders to modify their at-risk loans into 40-year, lower interest-rate mortgages and to reduce borrowers' burdens by permitting them to roll up to six months of missed payments into what amounts to an unsecured second loan. The two companies are also ramping up their staff and adjusting compensation so their internal structure better matches the size and complexity of the processing demand they face.

What’s more, to help facilitate short sales, Lockhart’s agency will be releasing a large-scale, streamlined, standardized process for expediting short sales, which he said will give lenders flexibility and tools like principal forbearance that they can’t easily use right now.

But Lockhart made it clear that the bulk of the problem isn’t with Fannie and Freddie loans, but debt in what the financial services industry calls private-label securities, the Wall Street loans, many of them subprime, that are held by investors all over the world.

The streamlined short sale process his agency will be announcing soon—he didn’t give a time line—could go a long way to focusing the minds of lenders on the problem. But ultimately the problem won’t go way until interest rates come down, buyers start streaming back into the market again, and prices firm up, he suggested.

—Robert Freedman
Realtor Magazine

Mortgage Loans

URGENT!! Dont let the media spook you!!

You do not have to have 20% down to obtain a home loan, we are financing people with a minimum of 3% down and even 0% down on special programs and areas.

Right now is the perfect time to buy a home, it is the largest investment you and your family will make.

If you do not own a home or are interested in moving to a new one please call us.

We can find a program that will best suit your needs.


by:
Silver Oak Mortgage
Lisa Warren
Branch Manager
751 E Southlake Blvd Ste 100
Southlake, TX 76092
office 817-410-2518
fax 817-410-2519

Real Estate Update

Fall Lawn Care

By Tara Darby


One of the most important decisions you will make in your lifetime is to sell your home. And getting your house ready for resale is vital to a quick and successful sale, especially when many parts of the country are experiencing a buyers market. In addition to the remodeling projects and staging that you’re preparing inside the home, remember that the very first impression a prospective buyer gets is the moment they drive up. A lackluster lawn can cost you in the end.
Having a clean and well-maintained front lawn goes a long way to creating interest. Fall is the perfect time to repair summer-damaged lawns and prepare for the winter season. Fall lawn care is also your window to a spectacular lawn come springtime, which just happens to be prime selling season.

According to a Michigan State University study, good landscaping can increase your home's value by 5 to 11 percent. By far the biggest component of your landscape is the grass. Outside Pride, an online landscaping information source, provides some easy tips to maintaining a gorgeous turf.

First of all, loosen up and let it breathe. Your lawn needs air to grow. As a rule of thumb, if you can't see the grass due to leaf coverage, then it's time to remove debris from the yard. Raking leaves and clippings will enable air and sun to reach your growing grass.

Secondly, drive out drought damage. Summer's drought leaves many lawns across the country straw-colored and dormant. To help your lawn recover, fertilize it every eight weeks with a slow-release fertilizer. A lawn that has the proper nutrients grows dense and deep. It will also green up faster.
Next, continue to feed the need. Even lawns not stricken by drought need nourishment in the fall. Fall feeding can bring dramatic improvements as the lawn recovers from summer damage. Fertilizers help "winterize" the lawn, storing vital nutrients so that underground root development can continue until the ground freezes. This readies the lawn for fuller growth next spring. Two feedings in the fall are recommended for northern lawns, while southern lawns are best-fed four to six weeks before the first frost occurs.

And lastly, always overseed. Overseeding, the spreading of grass seed directly onto soil, can improve a lawn's appearance dramatically and eliminate the need for a total lawn renovation. Pay special attention to weak spots in the yard. Early fall is the prime time to overseed because the warm soil promotes rapid seed growth.

Keep in mind too that cutting a lawn too short stresses the plant, increases its need for fertilizer and water, and weakens its roots. John Stier, professor of horticulture at the University of Wisconsin recommends cutting your grass between two and a half and three inches high.

Aside from promoting a healthy lawn, it can make your lawn appear more lush to buyers. Unfortunately, the highest setting on some older lawn mowers is barely two inches, which gives you the perfect excuse to buy a new machine. They can cost anywhere from $200 to $500 for a walk-behind and $1,000 to $3,000 for a riding mower.

If you follow these simple steps and don't neglect much-needed fall lawn care, you'll be amazed in the appearance of your lawn through the season. And you’ll see a dramatic difference by spring.

Copyright 2008 Realty Times
All Rights Reserved.

What's At Stake?

What's At Stake?
Pass the Emergency Economic Stability Act
A SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED ECONOMIC STABILIZATION ACT

Click here:
http://takeaction.realtoractioncenter.com/campaign/eesa/explanation

JPII Cardinals Football Schedule

Day Date Time Status Score Visitors Home LocationOfficials
Saturday 8/16/2008 11:00am TBP * Dallas Christian John Paul II Dallas Christian
Thursday 8/21/2008 7:00pm TBP * John Paul II Greenhill Greenhill School
Friday 8/29/2008 7:30pm L* 34-10 Conrad John Paul II John Paul II HS
Friday 9/5/2008 7:30pm L* 20-3 Sunset John Paul II John Paul II HS
Friday 9/12/2008 7:30pm L* 17-6 HSAA John Paul II John Paul II HS
Friday 9/19/2008 7:30pm W* 13-22 North Dallas John Paul II John Paul II HS
Friday 9/26/2008 7:30pm L 62-7 Trinity Christian John Paul II John Paul II HS
Friday 10/3/2008 7:30pm TBP John Paul II Grapevine Faith Grapevine Faith Christian
Friday 10/10/2008 7:30pm TBP Bishop Dunne John Paul II John Paul II HS
Friday 10/17/2008 7:30pm TBP John Paul II Bishop Lynch Bishop Lynch
Friday 10/24/2008 7:30pm TBP Gainesville State John Paul II John Paul II HS
Friday 10/31/2008 7:30pm TBP John Paul II Nolan Nolan Catholic High School

* Game not included in standings
Status: F - Final Score (Visitors-Home)
W - Win
L - Loss
T - Tie
TBP - To Be Played
CAN - Canceled
PPD - Postponed
SPD - Suspended
FFT - Forfeit

http://www.leaguelineup.com/schedules.asp?cmenuid=6&url=jpiifootball&sid=78007189

Addison's National Night Out Against Crime

On Tuesday, October 7, 2008, communities all over Texas will celebrate the "25th Annual National Night Out" (NNO), a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW). In other parts of the country, the event was celebrated on August 5, but we waited for cooler weather!

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT is designed to:

Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs;
Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
In 1984, 400 communities in 23 states participated in National Night Out, 2.5 million people. Participation has grown steadily. Last year, 35.4 million people in 11,310 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide participated in the event. In 2008 over 12,000 communities are expected to take part.

While the traditional 'lights on' and front porch vigils remain a part of NNO, activities have expanded considerably over the years to include block parties, cookouts, parades, visits from police, festivals, neighborhood walks, safety fairs, contests, rallies and meetings.

Click here for suggestions on hosting a neighborhood party.

We've designed a couple of invitations for you to use. Simply click on the links below, fill in the missing information, print out the invitation, and send to your neighbors.

An invitation to recruit people to be on the organization team
An invitation to the event
If you would like to request a police officer and/or a fire fighter stop by and visit your event, please call
972-450-7100.

For further information about the National program, go to www.nationalnightout.org

Special Events in Addison

Oktoberfest

Addison Circle Park

9/18/2008 to
9/21/2008

ADDISON OKTOBERFEST:

OKTOBERFEST OFFICIAL WEBSITE

When: Thursday, September 18, 2008 5pm – 11pm

Friday, September 19, 2008 5 pm – Midnight

Saturday, September 20, 2008 11 am – Midnight

Sunday, September 21, 2008 Noon – 6 pm

Where: 4970 Addison Circle Drive. Parking located at the northwest corner of The Dallas Parkway and Arapaho Road.

What: An authentic recreation of the Munich Oktoberfest featuring more than 30 hours of continuous family-oriented entertainment. German entertainers in authentic German costumes perform traditional German folk dances, schuhplattling, folk songs, ompah music, sing-a-longs, yodels and more. A special “Oktoberfest” Lowenbrau Oktoberfest Beer is served along with several types of German sausage, sauerkraut, strudel, giant pretzels and more. There are carnival rides, midway games, children’s entertainment, petting zoo, 5K run, pony rides and more.

Cost: $5 for ages 4 and older




Oktoberfest 5K and 1 Mile Run for the Children

Addison Circle Park

9/20/2008, 8:00 AM to
9/20/2008, 11:00 AM

WHAT: A 5K and one-mile fun run held in conjunction with the Addison Oktoberfest that benefits Wipe Out Kids' Cancer pediatric cancer research at Children's Medical Center of Dallas.

WHEN: September 20, 2008

WHERE: Addison Circle Park (4970 Addison Circle). Parking at NW corner of Dallas Parkway and Arapaho.

COST:
$10 for the one mile Fun Run
$18 for the 5K pre-registration

$20 for 5K race week registration
$25 for 5K race day registration

For more information, visit www.oktoberfest5K.com or call 214-987-4662




Shakespeare Dallas Presents THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
Bowl at Addison Circle Park

10/15/2008, 6:00 PM to
10/19/2008, 11:00 PM

WHAT: Shakespeare Dallas brings Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice to Addison Circle for a suspenseful comedy of greed, vengeance, and love under the harvest sky.

WHEN: October 15-19, 2008
6:45 pm - Member Entry
7:00 pm - Advance Ticket Entry
7:30 pm - General Admission Entry
8:00 pm - Curtain

WHERE: Bowl at Addison Circle Park (4970 Addison Circle Drive). Parking off of Festival Way at Addison Rd.

COST: $10 adults / $7 seniors; children 12 and under are free

For more information,visit www.shakespearedallas.org


http://www.addisontexas.net/