One of the things I love most about Highland Village, TX is the great trail system and parks weaving in and out of our beautiful city.   I saw a few of these signs out last week while enjoying the cool spring weather with my kids and hound.   The City of Highland Village Parks and Recreation Department is holding a public forum on Thursday, April 12 from 6-7:30 pm at the Robert and Lee DuVall Center.  Conceptual plans will be available for public comment during this come-and-go format for two park sites. Marauder Park is actually located behind this sign and features a trail head on St. James Place and Castlewood Blvd.  This is a great drop-in point for kayaks and canoes.  The second park is at 707 Highland Village Road and is also a small neighborhood park and trail head. Let your voic... 04/07/2012

Think you have a great name for the new city park in Highland Village, TX? The City of Highland Village and the Parks and Recreation Board are asking for your suggestions for naming the new city park located at 707 Highland Village Road.  The site has just over six acres and is a combination of city-owned land and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers leased land.   Designated as a neighborhood park, the City believes the park will be very popular due to its water frontage.   Nominations may be sent to lcornelius@highlandvillage.org or mailed to: Highland Village Parks and Recreation1000 Highland Village RoadHighland Village, TX 75077 04/07/2012

Inventory is low. I have two clients under contract that need a house and we've scoured the streets.  I've searched expired, cancelled and withdrawn listings with no luck.   Here in Highland Village, it's turned into a seller's market.  Price your home well and be in good shape, it's gone before it even hits the MLS.  I had one recently where an agent lived two doors down and had two showings before the house was officially listed.  After that, we had 13 showings in four days and two offers with another that would have written one.   With that being said, I have seen more of these signs than ever before! 03/27/2012

I do my best to check my bills every month but dang, it's confusing!  This Government fee, that tax, this random charge that I didn't authorize. Wait, what?   Yep.  I found this little $9.99 charge on my bill this month from AT&T: I remember getting a text message at 6 am a few nights ago and just deleted it. I called AT&T and they are reversing the charges of $19.98 to my account.  Apparently this is the second time it has appeared.  The rep said that this is a third-party message that is similar to a pop-up ad.  When I asked how they got my number, she said they don't have that information.  It would seem that AT&T knows about this and allows it to happen. Another charge that was on there was $9.99 for insurance on my mother in-law's phone that we've been charged since October.  She g... 03/25/2012

As a dog walker and resident of Castlewood in Highland Village, Texas, I make sure to do the common courtesy and right thing of picking up the mess my dog leaves behind.  The worst part is walking around with a stink in my stroller that didn't come from my young one.   I sent an email to our community manager asking if the Board would consider purchasing some pet waste stations similar to the one seen here.  This was really brought on by seeing bags left all over the trails instead of being properly disposed.   I was pretty excited (kinda sad, but still happy!) to get an email saying that there would be three stations placed on our walking trails.  Expect to see these babies out there next week!   Woo hoo! 03/24/2012

Whether you're a weekend photo fanatic or just like the beauty of nature, the city of Highland Village is sponsoring the annual Fall/Winter Photo Contest, which runs through February 29. Cash prizes will be awarded for Best Overall, Park Landscapes, Architecture/Structures, Nature/Wildlife and Black and White Photos.   For more information, past winners and contest forms, visit the city's website 01/31/2012

In the most recent City Connections newsletter, it was announced that the City is in the process of implementing a fixed base network automatic water meter reading system or AMI. Part of this project consists of replacing all water meters in the City with new water meters that have the capability to log, store and send water consumption data to the City daily. AMI will be used in conjunction with our billing system to eliminate the need for water meter readers. An AMI system will allow customer service representatives to answer customer inquiries with up to date and accurate water consumption information and will notify Utilities Operations of many different alarms, one being customer leaks so customers can be notified to make repairs. Upon completion of the project, Highland Village wa... 01/16/2012

In my city, Santa makes a cameo with his buddies in the Highland Village Fire Department.  This is a fantastic event bringing Santa Claus on a test drive to make sure he knows where all the nice girls and boys live. Next week, from 6-8:30 pm, Santa will drive around Highland Village with Christmas music and lights and spread holiday cheer.  Here is the map and coordinating color-coded routes.  If you need additional information, check out the Highland Village website.   Ho Ho Ho!     12/11/2011

With little hoodlums like this one behind bars, it's no wonder that my city is safer than yours.  Well, at least in Texas! For the past nine years, Highland Village has been named the "Safest City in North Texas" and was this year announced it once again received that honor based on information provided by the FBI's 2010 Uniform Crime Report. The difference this year is that Highland Village as now voted as the Safest City in TEXAS with population over 10,000 and less than 100,000.  Our humble little city has 17,496 people and reported only three violent crimes and 94 property crimes.  The next four in the list are Memorial Villages, Prosper, Canyon and Murphy.  The Police Department established programs which proactively address safety and crime prevention.  These programs have won nu... 12/09/2011

1.  Have a child between the ages of 16-23 months. 2.  Have a second child that knows what Santa is all about. 3.  Place the younger child first on Santa's lap and walk away. 4.  Have the older sibling walk up and give Santa a big hug and a list a mile long. 4.  Laugh hysterically at that crying child as you try and capture the magic moment. 5.  Relish in the fact that you have the year's best Christmas card. I snapped this gem at the annual Castlewood Breakfast with Santa last year.  It's always a fun event with crafts, donuts, and of course, Santa.  Grab your kids and head to the clubhouse tomorrow, December 3 between 8:30-10:30 am for this year's event.   Crying children always welcome.   12/02/2011

Here's an update on the council's decision to raise the speed limit on 2499 through Highland Village to Corinth.  This is the information released by Mark Stewart, the Assistant Chief of Police. It has been determined by TXDOT and the speed survey, in cooperation with input from the City of Highland Village, that the speed limit should remain at 40mph on Village Parkway (FM2499) from FM407 to a point 528 feet north of Castlewood/Highland Shores Blvd.  From that point north to the city limit in Corinth, the speed limit was determined to be 45 mph.  The speed signs should be posted by TXDOT soon upon final council approval in December. Until that time the ordinance is passed and the proper signs posted by TXDOT,  we will continue to not write routine speed enforcement citations. Thank you... 11/23/2011

  An annual event that we love to attend is "Our Village Glows" in Highland Village.  This holiday celebration and Tree Lighting Ceremony is organized each year by the Highland Village Women's Club in conjunction with the City of Highland Village.  This is the 10th year this has taken place and as you can tell by the picture of my kids, they love the tree and cookies! It's such a fun event to kick off the Christmas season.  The giant 54-foot Christmas tree is lit on this special night and includes free horse-drawn carriage rides, cookie decorating, performances by school choirs, ornament decorating and of course, a chance to sit on Santa's lap!   The good times start at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, November 29 at the Shops of Highland Village.  The festivities end at 8 pm.  It really is a fanta... 11/17/2011

There are certain things in life that are exciting to families in Suburbia.  A date to the ice cream store.  Pumpkin patches.  A new playground at your community park.  Wait, what!?   You got it!  Castlewood in Highland Village, Texas, just got a makeover in the playground department!  I've been a resident of Castlewood since 2005 and have had many a good times at the old playground.  This is my daughter's first time on a swing at the age of nine months, New Year's Day 2006.  She still loves to swing but is a bit too big for the bucket swings!  It was just time as age, those darn Texas summers and too many kids having too much fun wore the equipment down. Here are pictures of the new goodies!  My kids are super excited (as am I!) to head down and have fun.   The new playground features ... 10/14/2011

Strap on your roller skates, air up your bike tires and take to the streets! National Night Out is this Tuesday, October 4th.  What a great opportunity to meet your neighbors and get to know the names and faces of your community.  I have met several neighbors by finding pets, getting back my pets, welcoming new residents with a plate of brownies and saying hi on nightly walks. It is proven that the better acquainted you are with your neighbors, the more likely crime will happen on your street.  The Highland Village Police Department will be out and about this weekend encouraging neighbors to organize block parties and just get out Tuesday night. Get out and enjoy the beautiful weather that has finally shown itself! 09/30/2011

Before putting away the ice cream scoop and trading that in for carrots and turkey sandwiches, check out the end of summer party sponsored by Castlewood. Stop by Friday, August 19th from 5:30-7:30 pm for free games, food, prizes and fun at the Castlewood Community Clubhouse.  See old friends and meet new ones as a new school year is quickly upon us.  Introduce yourself to new community manager, Jillian Durbin! See you there! 08/18/2011

Last month, JoLynn Teftt ended her career as Community Manager for Castlewood in Highland Village, Texas.   The new community manager, Jillian Durbin, was announced this week.  Welcome Jillian! 08/18/2011

Exciting stuff coming up in our Dallas northern suburb of Highland Village, TX on the dates of August 19-21. The annual Lions Club Balloon Festival is a great annual tradition. I learned of it many years ago when my yellow Labrador dog Sunshine woke me up out of a sound sleep with her barking at the crack of dawn sunrise on a Saturday morning looking up in the sky at the space invader balloons floating over my house. Awesome sight to behold. There's live entertainment, sky divers, arts and crafts exhibits, food vendors and a carnival. Admission is real expensive too: FREE. All other proceeds are donated to local charities. And for you camera buffs: This is the only balloon festival in North Texas where spectators are permitted on the field with the balloons and balloonists, providing an... 08/18/2011

The City of Highland Village has launched its Spring/Summer Photo Contest!  Think you have a photo worthy of a blue ribbon?  Check out the Highland Village website to download an entry form and for complete rules.  There are several categories to enter and you might go home with $200!  Imagine how much frosting that buys you!?   08/16/2011

Tomorrow's the day... We'll be waiting by my cell phone like a teenage girl...and not for the boy to ask us for a date. It's not an official day on the school calendar but tomorrow, we get a phone call from the teacher of my daughter's first grade class at Heritage Elementary.  Oh, what an exciting day!   Will she get the teacher she wants so desperately?  Will she get the teacher I want so desperately?!?! So, wait by the phone Heritage Hawks and be ready to jump for joy or sigh in disbelief.   thanks to aussiegall on Flickr for this photo 08/14/2011

If you live in Highland Village, there will be less running in the sprinklers. Mandatory Phase 2 water restrictions limiting landscape watering for Highland Village residents went into effect on Wednesday, July 27. Phase 2 prohibits residential and commercial landscape watering on Monday’s and Friday’s and restricts watering the rest of the days of the week between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Wasteful water runoff is prohibited, which includes hosing down pavement or rinsing off cars. Groundwater well owners and residents that draw water from the lake are required to post a sign showing well water or lake water is in use. Residents are encouraged to comply with the Phase 2 water restrictions; however due to the severity of the drought conditions the city will diligently enforce the restri... 07/28/2011