Awhile back, we had a tab on this blog called Good Neighbor, which was essentially a community bulletin board with many a lost-pet post. Today I got a note intended for that long-deleted web page, and am surprised and glad that it came through.

Lucy is a 14-year-old pomeranian who was wearing a little red sweater when she disappeared from her Winnetka Heights home yesterday afternoon. She’s now without some much-needed medication, which has her family pretty worried.

Her owner, Lee Day, is offering a reward. You can reach Lee at 214-926-1157.

Only one Winnetka Heights property is scheduled to be discussed at Monday’s Landmark Commission meeting, but it’s a doozy. According to county tax records, a Fort Worth company called Solid Rock Investments bought the four-bedroom house at 218 S. Rosemont Ave. in January. Since then, the company has made nine changes to the home that all required certificates of appropriateness. It made these changes without securing any of the certificates.

That’s not the way that the preservation officers in the city’s Sustainable Development and Construction Department like things done. Still, they were fine with eight of the changes. But they are recommending that the Landmark Commission deny a certificate regarding the removal of two second-story windows on the rear facade, because the windows were part of an enclosed sleeping porch. (I’m not sure why that’s relevant, but I’m not a preservation officer.) However, the commission’s Winnetka Heights/Lake Cliff Task Force is recommending approval of all nine certificates. It’ll be up to the commissioners to decide whether the windows must be restored.

By the way, a reception to commemorate the Landmark Commission’s 40th anniversary is scheduled for the next day. “Note: A quorum of the Landmark Commission may be present.” Well, I would hope so.

The 7th annual “Night in the Heights” will be Saturday, May 18 at 7 p.m. The fun kicks off with a cocktail party at one Winnetka Heights home, and festivities will progress to two other homes as the evening goes on. Hosts of the three homes each represent a different country. Funds from the event will go toward “neighborhood beautification.”

Click here to buy your “passport.” But hurry, tickets are limited.

The Winnetka Heights Neighborhood Association will hold their March membership meeting tonight at Turner House. Head that way at 6:30 p.m. for a complimentary wine tasting before the meeting begins at 7 p.m.

They will be taking donations for a Winnetka Heights archive. If you’ve been a resident for a while, bring any old newsletters, T-shirts, posters, or neighborhood-related items to add to the collection.

The Winnetka Heights speakeasy rounds out the Oak Cliff Mardi Gras Parade. (Photo: Jessica Koller)

It was appropriate that the Krewe of Winnetka Heights was the final float of the Oak Cliff Mardi Gras Parade this afternoon. After all, you want to save the best for last.

The group that celebrated the Age of Aquarius in 2011 and the Days of Disco last year took us back to the Prohibition Era today. Per usual, the Winnetka Heights Neighborhood Association draped Holli Murray across the hood of a truck, which is always enough to get my attention. But the krewe kicked it up a notch this year. Lee Ruiz brandished a confetti cannon, and neighbors who were dressed as cops and gangsters took a break from bead throwing to do a semi-coordinated dance routine to “The Charleston.” Then the comedic aspect of the presentation broke out: The music switched to “Gangnam Style.” I don’t know the name of the woman who was on the mic, but I appreciated the ironic humor of her request that we sing along to the South Korean hit: “Come on, you know the words!”

For all of these reasons plus its sophisticated decor, the Krewe of Winnetka Heights float was named the best entry in the parade by a distinguished panel of judges: Roy Appleton of The Dallas Morning News, Melissa O’Brien of the Hewitt & Habgood Realty Group, and yours truly. Second place went to the Tradewinds Social Club, which had a float complete with a giant crawfish, a live band, and dancing go-go girls. Third place went to the World Famous Wheelie-ing Elvi, which I could try to explain, but it’s easier to just give you a link.

While I can’t speak for my fellow judges, some of my other personal favorites were the Wicked Krewe of Winnetka Avenue (this lifelong fanboy will always have a soft spot for people dressed as superheroes), the Kings Highway Conservation District (featuring such royalty as the King of Cards, King Tut, and Chicken a la King), and the Dallas Zoo Krewe (whose float had a working waterfall and live penguins).

Kudos to Amy Cowan and the rest of the Go Oak Cliff crew for putting on such a fun, family-friendly event. This parade gets more and more impressive each year. Be sure to pick up this week’s edition of Oak Cliff People for plenty more photos.

We all know about the decades of bad blood between the Winnetka Heights Historic District and the Kings Highway Conservation District. The feuds, the fights, the police barricades set up along Davis — “the troubles,” as they’ve come to be known, have been well-documented, so I won’t bother to recount the details here. I bring it up only because I just received a heartwarming email that say the two districts are setting aside their differences for a happy hour starting at 6 tonight at PhD. If these two groups can come together for a few beers and appetizers, there may yet be hope for peace in the Middle East.

Although the weather has not quite gotten the memo yet, we are officially in the holiday season. It’s probably safe to say that most of the events we post from now till the end of the year will be holiday related, so we hope you’re as fine with that as we are.

If you’d like to attend a fancy party that celebrates the very best of Oak Cliff, head to the Bishop Arts Theatre Center tonight at 5 p.m. for their annual awards presentation. State representative Rafael Anchia is the master of ceremony, and many of Oak Cliff’s finest will be in attendance.

If you like rockabilly music, you may want to check out Fort Worth’s very own, Devin Leigh,  He’s performing at 7 p.m. tonight at Bar Belmont, so head there for drinks and some of the liveliest guitar music around.

A Texas legend, Joe Ely has been called “a pioneer of alternative country music.” With a career that’s spanned four decades, he’s one solid performer. Head to the Kessler Theater to hear him perform at 8 p.m. tonight. Dan Dyer opens the show.

You’ve probably seen Scarface a few hundred (thousand) times, but have you ever seen it on 35MM film? Didn’t think so. In honor of it’s 29th birthday, the Texas Theatre is showing it tonight at 8 p.m., Saturday at 4:30 p.m., and Sunday at 5 p.m.

If you’re looking for an event that’s a little different from all of the usual cookies-with-Santa type of events this season is flooded with, bring your kids to the Hampton-Illinois Library at 11 a.m. Saturday for a special Kwaanza program featuring Melody Bell.

Join the Kessler Neighbor’s United on Saturday for their annual “Holiday Lights in  Kessler Park” event and tree lighting. Meet them at 5:30 p.m. on the street island at 1415 W. Colorado Boulevard at Lausanne Avenue.

You may have already read my cover story on today’s paper about Ray Switzer and the Winnetka Heights Neighborhood Association’s holiday home tour. If you haven’t yet, you should. Hopefully it makes you want to see the rest of the beautifully-restored homes in one of Dallas’ premier historic districts. Join them for the tour at noon on Saturday, followed by their holiday party at 7 p.m.

The Wynnewood North Neighborhood Association is also having their holiday party at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Join state rep. Rafael Anchia and his family (again, see above!) at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Kessler Theatre for a family holiday concert featuring Laura Freeman and the Hey Lollies, who “make fun, healthy music for kids.

The Oak Cliff Lions Club is having their Christmas party on Sunday at the Rockwall Wedding Chapel.

Saturday morning is shaping up to be the greenest few hours outside of Earth Day. At 9 a.m., city staffers will observe Arbor Day by passing out free trees to Winnetka Heights Neighborhood Association members at the corner of Clinton and Jefferson. Available varieties will include elms, red oaks, live oaks, and red buds. The volunteers from Winnetka Heights and city employees will then be organized into teams, which will plant the trees in area parkways.

At the same time, Twelve Hills Nature Center will host Andrea Bithell and Jamie Laws, who will teach you how to plant an organic flower bed and lead you on a tour of the center’s native plants. RSVPs are requested via marcieh@gmail.com.

The Texas Theatre and the Dallas Municipal Archives will mark Home Movie Day from 4 to 7 on Saturday afternoon. Preservation specialists will explain why transferring films to video or digital media does not mean they’ll last forever.

Perhaps some new home movies will be shot at a pair of neighborhood get-togethers scheduled for Saturday evening: the Fall Wander in Wynnewood North and Oktoberfest in Kessler Plaza.

While perusing the agendas for upcoming public meetings, I noticed that the Park and Recreation Board’s Administration and Finance Committee is set to consider “an alcohol permit request for the Kessler Entertainment Group to serve alcohol at the North Oak Cliff Music Festival at Lake Cliff Park.”

Lake Cliff Park? I thought the North Oak Cliff Music Festival was going to be at the Kessler Theater. That’s what the website says. But a phone call this afternoon with Edwin Cabaniss cleared things up. He said robust ticket sales may force a change in venue.

“The pivotal point where I think we start intruding on the neighborhood is somewhere in the 1,500 people range,” Cabaniss said.

Cabaniss said he’ll make a final decision Thursday morning, after the full Park and Recreation Board rules on the permit. Until then, he’ll be worrying about a Catch 22.

“As soon as I move it to Lake Cliff Park, we’re going to have heavy rain that day, and ticket sales are going to be depressed,” Cabaniss said. “And if I leave it at the Kessler, it’s going to be a day like it is today, and we’re going to have a ton of walk-ups. That’s the nature of it.”

It’s that time.

Come out and celebrate with one of the many National Night Out events happening in Oak Cliff tonight. The night is a nation-wide event – although Texas gets the cooler, October option — targeted at bringing communities together to be against crime.

So take advantage of the cool weather and use this time to meet some neighbors, thank the hard working officers in the Southwest Division, and even voice concerns to the public officials in attendance. Or you can just enjoy the community with free food and activities.

Make the jump for a list of a few NNO events in North Oak Cliff. If you don’t see your event on here, email me at andrew.plock@peoplenewspapers.com.

I’ll be jumping to and from a few events, so if you see me, say hi. I’d love to meet some Oak Cliff People readers.

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