December Neighborhood Newsletter
Last newsletter of 2025! We've had a great year and can’t wait to continue building our community in 2026. Share feedback and get involved by subscribing to the newsletter at www.vickeryplace.com. Wishing you a happy and safe holiday season!
The last newsletter for 2025! Thank you all for your involvement in the neighborhood. We've had a great year and look forward to further building our community in 2026. Let us know how we did, what we can improve, and what you'd like to see going into the new year. Want to get involved? Make sure your account on www.vickeryplace.com is subscribed to the volunteer newsletter.
We wish you a happy and safe holiday season and look forward to seeing you in 2026!
Vickery Place Neighborhood Association
We are thrilled to welcome both returning and new members to the 2026 Vickery Place Neighborhood Association Board. Together, we look forward to continuing our efforts in building a strong, vibrant community and addressing the needs of our neighborhood in the year ahead. Let's make 2026 our best year yet!
📢 City of Dallas Sanitation Survey
What’s Happening
Vickery Place residents are now receiving the official City of Dallas Sanitation Survey. This is the follow-up after the City paused the alley-to-curb transition, and your response will directly impact whether we keep alley pickup.
“Your input will help us understand how customers value alley collection… Every reply helps us build a clearer picture of neighborhood preferences.”
— City of Dallas Sanitation Department
What VPNA Needs From You
✔️ Complete your survey ASAP
✔️ Encourage neighbors to participate — especially on blocks with narrow alleys
✔️ Be specific about why you prefer alley or curb service
✔️ Share this newsletter with your block chat
What the Survey Asks (4 quick questions)
- How important is alley service? — No preference · OK with curb · Prefer alley
- Why? — Appearance · Convenience · Safety · Property layout · Parking/traffic · Cost · Other
- Would you pay more? — $0 · $10 · $20 · $20+
- Alley condition? — Vegetation · Pavement issues · Leaning poles/low wires · Ruts at entrance
How to Submit
📮 Mail: Use the prepaid envelope (ETC Institute, 725 W. Frontier Circle, Olathe, KS 66061)
💻 Online: DallasSanitationSurvey.org
📞 Phone: 1-888-801-5368
Bottom Line
This survey will help determine Dallas’ final decision on alley vs. curb pickup.
Vickery Place is only heard if every block participates.
Deadline - Please respond within two weeks of receiving the survey!!
BMW Dallas Marathon - ROAD CLOSURES will affect access to Vickery Place - 12/14/25
The BMW Dallas Marathon will be coming through our area on December 14th. Please note map route which comes across Monticello to Greenville, then down to Richmond. Plan your morning accordingly. Always fun to go down to Greenville Avenue and cheer on the runners!
Pet of the Month
This month's VPNA Pet of the Month is Merida! This adorable pup will be receiving free passes to Barking Hound Village from our neighbors, Lisa & Jeremy Jones, who have lived in Vickery Place for 16 years.
Merida loves to visit her happy place, the Lakehouse, as often as possible. She knows when she sees the black duffle bag that it’s time to go! She loves her “Ws” (walks), snuggles and scratches behind the ears…and any food that you’re willing to share with her. Our “Mers ba ders” was a “porch puppy” here in Vickery Place 9 years ago. IYKYK! She’s the sweetest girl that completes our family.
Nominate a Pet to win Pet of the Month below:
More About our Pet of the Month Sponsor: Barking Hound Village
Barking Hound Village is proudly owned and operated by our neighbors, Lisa and Jeremy Jones. Barking Hound Village provides upscale, loving care across three Dallas boutique locations, offering customizable boarding, daycare, and spa services, backed by a dedicated team and strict health protocols.
Services & Boarding (2025 rates)
- Private Suites start at $70/night; additional dogs: +$40 for 2nd, +$10 each thereafter.
- VIP Suites start at $95/night; +$35 for 2nd dog, +$10 thereafter.
- House food option: $4/day/dog.
- Extended-stay discounts: 10% off for ≥12 nights, 15% for ≥21 nights
- Holiday/peak surcharge: $5 per dog/night; cancellation deposits and deadlines vary
Daycare (2025):
- $45 per suite/day; second dog in same suite $35; additional dogs $10 each.
- Monday–Friday admissions, reservations required by 11 AM; 48‑hour cancellation policy applies
Bathing:
- Available to boarding/daycare clients; priced by breed, size, coat type, condition, and time
Fill in the Blank, LLC
Festive Local Holiday Events
⭐ Holiday Events for Everyone
- Holiday at the Arboretum — Christmas Village, 12 Days Gazebos & lights: https://www.dallasarboretum.org/events-activities/holiday-at-the-arboretum/
- Klyde Warren Park Tree Lighting — Tree lighting, fireworks & performances: https://klydewarrenpark.org/Things-To-Do/tree-lighting/
- SMU Meadows “The Nutcracker” — Local performance of the holiday classic: https://meadows.smu.edu/calendar/nutcracker
- Dallas Symphony “Christmas Pops” — Symphony & choir holiday concert: https://www.dallassymphony.org/productions/christmas-pops/
🍷 Holiday Events for Adults
- Highland Park Carriage Rides — Scenic rides through HP holiday lights: https://www.visithighlandpark.com/carriage-rides
- Holiday Tea at The Adolphus — Luxe seasonal tea in The French Room: https://adolphus.com/dining/the-french-room-tea/
- Miracle & Sippin’ Santa Pop-Up Bars — Festive cocktails + themed holiday bars: https://www.miraclepopup.com/locations | https://sippinsantapopup.com/locations
- Winspear Opera House Holiday Shows — Holiday concerts & seasonal performances: https://www.attpac.org/on-sale/
🎅 Family-Friendly Favorites
- Dallas Zoo Lights — Walk-through light experience with glowing displays: https://www.dallaszoo.com/zoolights/
- The Trains at NorthPark — Classic holiday trains + Santa Village: https://thetrainsatnorthpark.com/
Monthly Book Club
The Vickery Place Book Club is a once-a-month group that meets on the 2nd Thursday of every month. We read fiction (so far) and books are selected during the meetings.
We nominate books and select the next two at each meeting.
We accept new members, so if you've never been there are always new people.
The hosting rotates through the group, but no one is required to host
Book for Dec 12 - We are each bringing one title to suggest for 2026 plus a book for the gift exchanges. This meeting will be a pot luck.
Check out the post below for more information.
Andrea Hundley
Local Organizations to Consider Donating Resources or Your Time During the Holiday Season:
- Austin Street Center: AustinStreet.org
Provides safe shelter and meets the basic needs of the most vulnerable homeless. - Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center: DCAC.org
Improves the lives of abused children. - Dallas Hope Charities: DallasHopeCharities.org
Instills dignity, stability, and hope for all. - Genesis Women’s Shelter and Support: GenesisShelter.org
Created to give women in abusive situations a way out. - Jubilee Park: JubileeCenter.org
Housing, health, safety, education, and workforce opportunities. - New Friends New Life: NewFriendsNewLife.org
Restores and empowers trafficked and sexually exploited teen girls, women, and their children, while driving awareness of the issue. - Operation Kindness: OperationKindness.org
North Texas Lifesaving Animal Shelter. - Texas Community Charities Foundation: TXFCCF.org
Serving the needs of the many, one community at a time. - White Rock Center of Hope: WhiteRockCenterOfHope.org
Cultivates hope through basic needs and personalized empowerment.
Paws For A Cause
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/60B044CACA92CA75-60206322-paws
Yard of the Month
🌼 December Yard of the Month: 5343 Vickery Blvd 🌼
For the past five years, Jackie has enjoyed calling 5343 Vickery Blvd home, settling into a spot that reflects so much of what makes Vickery Place special. In our neighborhood, we share more than just streets and sidewalks—we share porches, tree canopies, and, in many cases, front and back yards that open toward one another. That sense of shared space is part of the charm woven into Vickery Place from its early days, when duplexes were intentionally built into the original development. Many of those duplexes still stand today, either lovingly preserved or thoughtfully reimagined into single homes. Jackie’s home is one of those wonderful examples.
The duplex itself is owned by fellow neighbor, Salim, and Jackie gives him full credit for designing the beautifully layered, sustainable xeriscape in the backyard—a serene, low-water oasis that feels both intentional and effortless. She also gives a warm shout-out to Ruibal’s Farmers Market, whose winter palette of pansies now brightens her outdoor planters with cheerful color. But while the hands that planted and planned deserve recognition, it’s Jackie who brought everything together. Her eye for blending textures, palettes, and seasonal touches transformed both the front and back landscapes into an inviting, cohesive look that has caught our Yard of the Month committee’s attention more than once. It’s the attention to details that bring Jackie’s handy work to life, and we appreciate her use of Vickery Place’s signature purple as the focal color.
Today, we happily shine the YOTM spotlight on Jackie—a neighbor whose space celebrates beauty, sustainability, and the shared spirit of Vickery Place. Congratulations, Jackie, and thank you for making our neighborhood even lovelier.
As this month’s winner, Jackie will receive a gift card from our Yard of the Month sponsor, North Haven Gardens. We are grateful for NHG’s generous support of the beautification of our very own Vickery Place!
TIS THE SEASON TO BE WARY!
Winter months give rise to more opportunities for criminal activity. As daylight hours become shorter and holiday gift-giving activities ensue, the potential for theft of personal property increases. Here are some reminders to minimize the opportunity for crime:
- Leave your front porch light on and have motion detection lights in your side/back yards—outside lights deter criminals and cost little to operate.
- Lock your doors and windows when you leave the house or retire to bed. If you have an alarm system, set your alarm.
- Lock up your car, and if possible, park in the driveway. Do NOT leave valuable items in your car.
- Have packages delivered to your office or a drop box location—porch pirates abound during the holidays.
- When out shopping or having some cheer on Lower Greenville, have your keys ready when returning to your vehicle and pay attention to your surroundings.
If you are traveling for the holidays, make sure your home looks occupied even when it is not:
- Double-check that doors and windows are locked before you leave home—this includes the garage or outdoor shed.
- Let a trusted neighbor know you’re leaving, when you will return, and provide a contact number. Have them watch for anything that might appear out of place.
- Ask your neighbor or friend to grab the paper each day and pick up the mail. Even when you have the PO stop your mail, it doesn’t always happen, so have someone check.
- Leave some lights on, and set lamps on timers.
Don’t forget, the most important part of crime prevention is knowing your neighbors and looking out for one another! Have a safe and happy holiday season!
Tips on how to prevent damage during a Freeze
Recycling Reminder:
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