IrvingIrving RamblerRambler www.irvingrambler.com “Irving’s weekly community newspaper” August 14, 2008 Local artists compete Obituaries Page 8-9 Movies Page 4 HIS WEE in shows Police Page 2 TK Puzzles Page 10 Page 6 YYYearearearlylyly TTTransporransporransportationtationtation SummitSummitSummit rocksrocksrocks ononon By Jess Paniszczyn it, there was an expert available to able of which seemed to have their cheon. Mr. Simpson spoke about time.’ Ladies and gentlemen, it is Featuring more than 120 speak about it. Experts in topics own sort of special-interest group- finding solutions to America’s fuel really time,” Mr. Simpson said dur- speakers, the 11th Annual Trans- such as public-private partnerships, ies. and transportation problems now ing his speech. portation Summit took place in the streamlining intermodalism, trans- Among those reaching rocker and the increasing role public trans- “We get myopic if we don’t Omni Mandalay Hotel this week. If portation infrastructure, high- heights was James Simpson, Ad- port will play in national mobility in leave the country. When I first got you can fly it, ride it, drive it, float speed transport and transportation ministrator of the Federal Transit the future. to the FTA, we had a budget to it, sail it, steer it, travel across it, funding were treated like rockstars. Administration and keynote “Have you heard of Paul travel overseas. I would say, ‘I’ve transport people on it or put fuel in The most popular and knowledge- speaker for Wednesday’s lun- Masson Wine? There used to be been overseas. I really shouldn’t commercials on T.V. that would say, travel, because it is a waste of the ‘We will serve no wine until its time.’ taxpayers’ dollars.’ I have to tell you, In Washington, we operate under, it is not a waste of money. The best ‘We will solve no problem until its See AMERICA’S, Page 3 DilapidatedDilapidated strstructuresuctures disappeardisappear fromfrom citycity By Jess Paniszczyn down, which represents 36 units. Over the past several months Those fourplexes are in a dilapi- apartment complexes, homes and dated state, they have all sorts of even pools have disappeared from code violations. A lot of them lost the Irving landscape as the City’s their certificates of occupancy, be- Code Enforcement Department has cause the owners in several cases worked to eliminate properties that just didn’t pay their water bills. The for whatever reason cannot be water was turned off and there were Getting the rockstar treatment, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison receives a standing ovation after brought into code compliance. still tenants living there. The ten- serving at the keynote speaker for the Transportation Summit’s Thurs. luncheon. In her speech, Senator “Basically we are trying to ad- ants weren’t paying their rent, so Hutchison stated that America should use its available natural resources to break its dependency on dress dilapidated conditions the owner instead of making the foreign oil. whether they affect an accessory tenants move and getting tenants structure, a residential structure, a in there who would pay their rent, commercial building, apartment the easier way was to not pay the NewNew proposalproposal addressesaddresses residents’residents’ complex, a fourplex or a hotel,” water, so the water was turned off, Teresa Adrian, Director of Code which forces people to move. The Enforcement, said. problem is when the water is termi- “This fiscal year from Oct. 1 nated, it causes the certificate of concerconcernsns aboutabout proposedproposed aquaticsaquatics centercenter until now, we have demolished 16 occupancy to be revoked, because single family homes, 24 single fam- the owner is supposed to provide By Jess Paniszczyn presented an alternative site for the north of West Park adjacent to Dry ily accessory structures and we essential utilities. The same thing More than a few west Irving aquatics center for the board mem- Branch Creek,” Mr. Tate said in an have 6 more that should be down happened on Red Bird. residents concerned about the pro- bers’ consideration. The new pro- interview. “The City also has five by next Oct. 1 that already have “The City purchased the prop- posed aquatics center attended the posal suggests expanding West acres to the north of the eight acres demolition orders; 7 commercial erties on Tudor Lane. They are ob- Irving Parks and Recreation Board Park and building the aquatic cen- where the old mobile home park structures, 4 swimming pools, and viously not going into the property meeting Monday night. ter to the north of the existing park. used to be. So the eight acre and 2 fourplexes 1 on Tudor Lane and 1 management business, so those During the meeting, Casey “The West Irving Aquatic Cen- five acre sites will be added to- on Red Bird. Villa Martinique was structures will be demolished. Tate, Director of the City’s Con- ter is going to be located on an ap- gether to increase the West Park demolished, that had 150 units. “On 183, the American Best struction and Building Services, proximately eight acre site to the by approximately 13 acres. “We have nine fourplexes on “The location will provide us a Tudor Lane that will be coming See CITY, Page 6 good opportunity to be adjacent to BackBack toto schoolschool shoppingshopping West Park. It will be in proximity to BackBack toto schoolschool shoppingshopping where most of the residents of the area wanted it to be.” Through additional construc- withoutwithout breakingbreaking thethe bankbank tion phases, more amenities could TEXAS PENDING PERMIT #12 Provided by Jordan Gibennus plan makes more “cents” than ever. be added to West Park. IRVING AT PERIODICALS With the start of the new school Start by taking a thorough inven- “Eventually we are looking at PAID POSTAGE year quickly approaching, many tory of what you already have (and having a trail go up and down Dry parents are beginning to feel the what can be reused from last year) Branch Creek similar to what is on pressures only back-to-school and then develop a budget for what Delaware Creek. Right now we ving Rambler $0.25 ving Rambler $0.25 ving Rambler $0.25 ving Rambler $0.25 ving Rambler $0.25 Ir Ir Ir shopping expenses can bring. Ac- you still need. Then, list each item would just tie the trail from the rec- Ir Ir cording to a recent study by the in order of importance, starting with reation center down, cross over Marketing to Moms Coalition, the necessities. After ranking your Conflans and feed into the aquatic back-to-school spending per supplies by priority, trim the non- center. Eventually, it will go north household will average $484 in necessities and luxuries from the up Dry Branch toward 183, and we 2008, up from $449 last year, with bottom of the list in order to stay hope in the future to send it south specific increases in the clothing, within your budget. Don’t forget to Campion Trails,” he said. electronics and school supply often-overlooked expenses such as “In the interim, the trail would prices. yearbooks, extra-curricular activi- go over Conflans as an at-grade With many family budgets al- ties and uniforms, science projects crossing. We will work with traffic ready stretched due to rising food and immunizations. and transportation to make sure we and gas prices, approaching back- See EXPANDING, Page 5 to-school spending with a solid See SHOP, Page 11 The Irving Rambler Box 177731 P.O. Irving, TX 75017 Page 2 August 14, 2008 www.irvingrambler.com The Irving Rambler POLICE & FIRE Protest: 08-06-08 at Aggravated Robbery: 08-10-08 at gating officers used the informa- 12:22 p.m. The Bank 12:30 a.m. A Black male suspect tion and located the suspect in a of the West is fore- approached the victim in the park- building in the 200 block of Irby Irving Fire Department closing on the prop- ing lot of the Eagle Crest Apart- Ln. The suspect was arrested and Activity summary Aug 7 - 13, 2008 erty at 3941 Carver, ments. The suspect pointed a pis- property recovered. which is the headquarters of United tol at the victim’s head demanding Irving Fire Department responded to 252 incidents. Housing Program. Deborah money and the victim’s car keys. Burglary of Vehicle: 08-11-08 at The Fire incidents Medical calls Kroupa, chairman of the United The suspect fled on foot toward the 10:19 a.m. An officer was dis- 63 Miscellaneous Fire 21 Major Accidents Housing Program, feels the bank’s 7-Eleven store at Esters and patched to the Hidden Village and Rescue Calls 74 Major Medical actions are inappropriate. She Northgate with the victim’s Apartments to investigate the bur- 5 Structure Fires 14 Heart Attacks brought 11 protestors to the bank’s wallet. The suspect was not lo- glary of two vehicles. After taking 0 Special Operations 24 Difficulty Breathing location in the 2100 block of W. Air- cated. the report, the officer located a sus- 1 Vehicle Fires 30 Trauma Related port Frwy. Everything was peace- pect vehicle and stopped it for a 20 CPR Situations ful. Burglary of Habitation Arrest: 08- traffic violation. The officer was Aggravated Robbery: 08-13-08 at ing party could not see anyone 11-08 at 12:37 p.m. The witness able to arrest both occupants for 7:04 p.m. The reporting party is an through the peephole. She opened Major Accident: 08-08-08 at 7:26 observed a suspect leaving the wit- traffic violations and warrants. The employee of Monica’s Hallmark the back door and the suspect, wear- p.m.