It’s Spring of 2016, and the neighborhood trees and plants are blooming and coming to life after a relatively mild winder (thank you, El Nino!). I want to take this moment to welcome all of our new neighbors to West Kessler, which continues to be one of the most caring, fun loving, and diverse group in Oak Cliff. I feel very thankful for the privilege to live in West Kessler and have the friendship of so many amazing people; I hope you take advantage of all this group has to offer.

We accomplished quite a bit in 2015, thanks in whole to the great neighbors that invested their time, knowledge, and creative ideas; opened their homes for events; and showed up at the events (the people really do make the party!). For the remainder of 2016, we have in store a number of events, including:

• Quarterly Parties, including Spring Salad Supper, Summer Pool Party, Fall Festival, and Holiday Walkabout;
• Monthly Neighbors Night Out;
• Monthly Fourth Friday Wine Down;
• Building two Free Little Libraries: one for West Kessler, and one for our neighbors to the west on Boulevard Terrace;
• Beautification projects for the common spaces on Tenna Loma, Stevens Woods Court cul de sac, and at the Golf Course entry to our neighborhood;
• North Oak Cliff Conservation League Fall Tour of Homes;
• North Oak Cliff United Police Patrol activities;
• Dallas Community Emergency Response Team training and development of a neighborhood emergency response plan;
• Designing and building our Mardi Gras Float for 2017.

I would also like to gauge interest in establishing a social responsibility committee, with events such as a build day at Habitat for Humanity or other event that gives back to our community. Come out and join us, and feel free to contact any of your board members or block captain on ways to get involved.

I look forward to continuing to serve you all this year,

Stephanie Engwall

President, West Kessler Neighborhood Association