Upcoming Events

School is out, the temperature is on the rise

and that can only mean one thing– Summer is

here! If you find yourself outside for long pe-

riods of time, make sure you

drink plenty of liquids to stay

hydrated. If you live next door

to an elderly or young person, be

a good neighbor and check on

them.

This is a great time to live in

Richardson and Marlborough

Square. We have a lot to celebrate but there is

always more to do. To make a great commu-

nity, each member needs to be involved in

some form. Your neighborhood association

and city has many opportunities to become

involved that do not take a lot of time but col-

lectively makes a big impact on the communi-

ty. MSNA needs more involvement. One

way to become involved is to join crime

watch, the beatification committee, assist

other neighbors in need, etc. Con-

tact me at 214-912-5493 if you can

spare a few hours to devote mak-

ing our neighborhood the best

community in Richardson. We are

looking for new ways to serve our

neighborhood and neighbors who

are ready to step up and volunteer

to make it happen. I am sure there are many

new neighbors moving into the neighborhood

with lots of new ideas. Let’s make Marlbor-

ough Square a neighborhood everyone wants

to live in and be involved!

Nick Robison

MSNA President

President’s Message

I n s i d e t h i s

i s s u e :

Congrats

Dunlap’s! 2

MSNA Hous-

ing Market 2

July 4th Yard

Decorating 2

One of Our

Own 3

Yard o f the

Month 3

Fun in

Richardson 4

M S N A N e w s l e t t e r

The Marlborough Messenger

S u m m e r 2 0 1 7 V o l u m e 5 , I s s u e 2

P o i n t s o f

I n t e r e s t

MSNA July 4th

Parade and Picnic

MSNA Website

Richardson Best

City for Teachers

Calloway’s

Gardening Tips

10 Things that Make a Great

Neighborhood

MSNA July 4th Parade and Picnic

Where: Forsythe Drive

When: Tuesday, July 4th

Parade: 11 a.m.

Parade awards for most patriotic, creative, and imagina-

tive costumes. If you are interested in participating,

arrive at Forsythe/ Mt. Vernon corner at 10:00a.m.

Cookout: Following the parade

Hot dogs, chips, and drinks provided.

A-M Bring salad

N-Z Bring dessert

*Please come even if you can’t bring a food item.

Marlborough Square Market Analysis

4th of July Yard Decorating

P a g e 2

Congratulations to Tom and Helen Dunlap, 1506 Potomac Drive, on there 60th Wedding Anniversary. Togeth-

er, you have proven that love can withstand any test of time. We wish you a beautiful journey together on your

60th wedding anniversary.

Active Listings: 1 Pending Listings: 1 Sold past 6 months: 5

Avg list price: $329,000 List Price: $289,900 Avg sold price: $268,200

Avg price/sq ft: $140.48 Price/sq ft: $122.17 Avg price/sq ft: $113.94

Please note this does not include “For Sale by Owner” Properties.

If you would like additional information or a market analysis of your property, please

contact me at (972) 743-0196 or marilynjones@ebby.com

Marilyn Jones Ebby Halliday Realtors | 190 - Richardson 3621 Shire Blvd. Suite 100

Richardson, TX 75082

July 4th is such a meaningful day for our nation. Let’s proudly celebrate our support for

our country during this special time.

There will be a Star Award for each of our six neighborhood streets, as well as a Grand

Prize Winner for the neighborhood. This award is separate from our monthly Yard of

the Month.

Judging will take place on Sunday, July 2nd at 3:00 p.m. With your patriotic décor in

place, we’ll have a more enthusiastic spirit to lead us on during our July 4th parade and

party.

Congratulations Tom and Helen!

MSNA Website

Want to know what’s go-

ing on in the neighborhood

and community? Now you

no longer have to wait until

the next Newsletter to see

what is going on in Marl-

borough Square. The New

MSNA website is up and

running. Check it out!

http://marlboroughsquare.wordpress.com/

V o l u m e 5 , I s s u e 2 P a g e 3

One of Our Own on Zoning Board of Adjustment

Yard of the Month Winners

June 2017

Monica Heid

1512 Concord Dr.

June 2017

Jeanette Davern

1502 Flintwood Dr.

May 2017

Catalina Family

1501 Flintwood Dr.

John Veatch, a long-time resident of Marlborough Square Neighborhood Association, sits on the Zoning Board of Ad-

justment for the city of Richardson. John has been on the Board since 2011 and is currently its Vice-Chairman.

The Zoning Board of Adjustment considers requests for variances from the City zoning and fence ordinances, typically

dealing with issues regarding setbacks, height, lot coverage, building materials and fence height and location. The Board

meets once a month on the third Wednesday of the month.

A good many of the issues that come before the Board arise from residents wanting to make a change to some facet of

their property that will bring them into a violation of a city code or ordinance. The Board hears the resident present his/

her case for the variance and then hears from affected parties who support or oppose the request. The Board then decides

whether to grant or deny the request. As a practical matter a good number of the requests that come before the Board are

granted unless there are specific concerns on behalf of neighboring residents that granting the request will not be in the

best interests of the neighborhood.

The Zoning Board of Adjustment also serves as the body that forms the Building and Standards Commission. This Com-

mission meets only on an ad-hoc basis and has no regularly scheduled meetings. The Commission considers cases pre-

sented by city staff personnel concerning matters of safety and compliance with City codes governing properties in Rich-

ardson.

During his time on the Commission, Mr. Veatch and his colleagues have heard several cases involving apartment com-

plexes that are in violation of a number of city codes and have considered staff recommendations regarding fixing the

problems. In some cases the property owner makes the necessary corrections and resolves the matter. In other cases the

property owner fails to make the adjustments to meet City standards and the Board has, in two instances, followed the

City’s recommendation to raze the properties. In both cases cited, properties were torn down and the ground leveled.

May 2017

Nick & Bryan

1404 Potomac Dr.

Richardson recognized as a “Best City for K-12 Teachers”

P a g e 4

Richardson has been ranked as a prime area in the United

States for teachers to live and work. In the third annual

“Best Cities for K-12 Teachers,” consumer research web-

site goodcall.com ranked Richardson 25th in the nation.

Richardson is the only Texas City to make the top 25. The

ranking was based on its educational values, K-12 teacher

salaries and job availability, amenities, affordability, and

low unemployment and crime rates.

Fun in Richardson

Want to stay close to home, yet still have some fun? Planning on a stay-cation this

summer with your kids? You no longer have to leave the City of Richardson for enter-

tainment. Whether it’s Free Play Arcade, Urban Axe Throwing and Escape Room, or

K1 Speed Indoor Go-Kart Racing, Richardson has it all!

Alright everybody, quarter up, because Free

Play Arcade is about to take over Richardson.

If you're into retro arcade games, pinball, and

maybe craft beer, this the place for you. The

owners have roughly 60 games here now, but

they say they could maybe fit as many as 90 in

the future, which includes classics like Donkey

Kong, Burger Time, Smash TV, Pac-Man and

Joust. $10 will get you in to play all the games

you want, and adults can stay here until late at

night.

Great for team-building with co-workers or just hanging out with friends, Urban Axe

Throwing and Escape Room is the place to go. Located at 615 N. Glenville Drive, you

can throw small axe’s at a target and earn points, similar to the game of darts. Urban axe

throwing has been popular in Canada for many years and is growing in popularity in the

United States. If Axe throwing is not your thing, check out the Escape room. Escape

rooms are immersive experiences in which people are placed in themed rooms and solve

clues as a team in order to “escape.”

If you want to experience the thrill and excitement of indoor go-kart racing, K1 Speed

Dallas is for you. Located on Campbell Road in Richardson, Texas indoor karting cen-

ter offers world-class karting to kids and adults of all ages. With professionally de-

signed tracks, advanced safety barriers, remote speed governors and cutoff switches,

and pre-race training for all new competitors, K1 Speed provides a safe and controlled

environment in which to satisfy your need for speed! Check it out today and experience

the fun of indoor karting for yourself!

If you would like advertise,

submit an article or have

a suggestion for the news-

letter, please contact Nick

Robison at msnacommuni-

cations@gmail.com.

P a g e 5

Calloway’s Gardening Tips

Timely Tips for July Gardeners

Gardening activities usually slowdown in the summer-

time as the temperature continues to climb into the 90’s

and beyond. New garden projects are not usually started

but there are always maintenance chores to do. The best

time to do any kind of gardening or maintenance is in

the early morning or late in the day after supper.

Proper watering is essential to keep plants healthy in the

heat of summer. It is best to water as deeply and infre-

quently as possible, as opposed to frequent light sprin-

klings. This will encourage a deeper root system that can

take advantage of water stored in the soil. One of the

best strategies for getting shrubs and young trees

through summertime dry spells is to apply a thick layer

of mulch over the root systems of plants. A three to four

inch layer will prevent most evaporation from the soil

and lower the soil temperature in the root zone, reducing

stress on the root system.

Drip irrigation combined with mulch is an excellent way

to maintain high quality of plant materials. Drip irriga-

tion, is an irrigation method that saves water and fertiliz-

er by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of plants,

either into the soil surface or directly into the root zone.

Soil erosion and weed growth is lessened with this type

of irrigation along with the foliage remains dry, reduc-

ing the risk of disease. If drip irrigation is not an option

at this time, consider using soaker hoses to provide a

good source of water to your garden or bedding plants.

Water plants in containers and hanging baskets more

frequently in the summer to keep them from drying out.

This can leach out plant nutrients from the soil, so use a

water-soluble fertilizer regularly to keep your plants

growing and healthy

Timely Tips for August Gardeners

August is here and needless to say, it is HOT! This is

usually one of the driest months for our region, and rain-

fall may be sparse. When and how you water becomes

even more important.

Make the best use of the water you have by watering

early in the morning before the wind speeds pick up.

Otherwise, much of the water will evaporate before the

plants get to use it. To further avoid excess evaporation,

use a sprinkler that produces large drops of water in-

stead of a fine mist. Plants need about one inch of water

each week during this long Summer period. If you have

heavy clay soil adjust the timing of the irrigation zones

to make sure water is not running off the landscape.

Your irrigation schedule should be adjusted to allow for

slow infiltration of the water.

Soil that is exposed can heat up to more than 100 de-

grees Fahrenheit. This is hot enough to kill those tender

roots near the surface. Three to four inches of mulch

can make the soil 10 to 20 degrees cooler. Besides re-

ducing soil temperature, mulches also conserve water by

reducing evaporation, often up to 65 percent. Newly-

installed lawns need at least six to eight weeks to estab-

lish a healthy root system.

Prune roses back, but do not remove more than one-third

of the plant. Prune and remove spent blooms on annuals

and perennials to encourage continuous blooming well

into Fall.

Tomatoes and Peppers planted earlier this year will not

produce fruit during the heat of the Summer, even

though they may still be flowering. If the plants remain

healthy, they will bear fruit again once the temperature

stays below 90 degrees. Remember to fertilize estab-

lished, healthy plants and keep them watered to encour-

age new growth. Set out Tomato transplants; look for

early maturing variety (65 to 75 days). Our average first

freeze is mid-November and Tomato maturity slows

down as the days get cool and cloudy.

President

Nick Robison

nick.robison@gmail.com

Vice President

Carolyn Davis

carolyndavisemail@gmail.com

Treasurer

Bryan Florez

bryan.florez@sbcglobal.net

Membership

Marilyn Jones marilynjones@ebbyhalliday.com

MSNA Board P a g e 6

10 Things that Make a Great Neighborhood

1. Lifestyle match. Is the neighborhood in sync with your current life-

style? Both renters and homebuyers tend to gravitate to areas with similar

demographics.

2. Pride in ownership. Pr ide in ownership is obvious when the residents

maintain their homes and care about their neighborhood. Neighbors con-

nect and create local groups that bring the residents together for the better-

ment of the area.

3. Low crime rate. Low cr ime rates give a neighborhood a sense of ease

and calm. Crime rates are a quick way to tell if a neighborhood is improv-

ing or not, since everyone is concerned with safety and security. You can

usually spot a transitional and improving neighborhood by the improve-

ment in its crime rates.

4. Great schools. For homeowners and renters with children, great

schools top the list of what makes a great neighborhood. Not only are

great schools important for families with children, but they also make the

surrounding neighborhoods more valuable and sought after, keeping prop-

erty values strong.

5. Outdoor activities abound. Being close to the outdoor adventures you

love can sweeten the appeal of your neighborhood. Being close (or within a

reasonable drive) to places to jog, sail, or pedal can keep you in love with

your home.

6. Stepping back in time. Tree-lined streets give neighborhoods a charming,

older, and established feel. These neighborhoods are usually very stable,

with longtime residents and community support, which also helps encour-

age safety and low crime rates.

7. Family-friendly. Neighborhoods where plenty of families live are a real

draw for buyers with children. There are more opportunities for children to

play, socialize, and make lifelong friends.

8. Nearby shopping and restaurants. If you want to join the hustle and

bustle (and don’t want to cook dinner every night), having great restau-

rants, shopping, and markets in close proximity is a must!

9. Nightlife and entertainment. Is there a nearby area with movies, thea-

ters, bars, and nightlife? This could be the one thing that makes your neigh-

borhood come alive. This is a priority for anyone who is young and single,

but everyone appreciates a neighborhood where the hot spots are nearby.

10. Walkability. Being able to leave the car keys at home and hit the pave-

ment to walk to markets, shopping, restaurants, parks, and all the other

amenities your neighborhood has to offer can alleviate a lot of road rage…

and make you fall even more deeply in love with your neighborhood.

MSNA Committees

Beautification

Ruth Martin

Heidi Walsh

Communications

Nick Robison

Safety

Myrna and Richard Cudlipp

Social

Rodrigo Hernandez

National Night Out

Dave Riley

Springridge Area Crime Watch

John Shipman

Ten for TIN

Val King and Daphne Self

Block Captains

Mt. Vernon – Michael Seufert

Potomac – Brownlee Family

Flintwood – Rodrigo and

Melissa Hernandez

Forsythe – Harold Stout

Concord - Raymond and

Linda Hart

Stonecrest - Norm and Beth

Wills

Marlborough Square Neighborhood Association Membership Form

MSNA Dues Support the Following Projects

• Entryway Landscaping • Neighborhood Social Events • MSNA Newsletter • 4th of July Party/Parade • Holiday Decorations • E-mail Alerts

• Yard of the Month Award • Neighborhood Directory • Crime and Safety Updates • Neighborhood Yard Sale • Website • Support Area Schools

Please provide the following information. This information is used for the membership directory which is available to members only. Please circle any information you do not want published in the directory. First Name:_____________________________________ First Name________________________________

Last Name:_____________________________________ Last Name ________________________________

Cell #: _________________________________________ Cell #: ___________________________________

E-mail:_________________________________________ Email: ___________________________________

Street Address: ____________________________________________________________________________

Home #: ________________________________________

MSNA prefers to send our Newsletter electronically – please provide your email address for the newsletter, crime alerts and other MSNA information. If you do not have an email address, manual delivery of the newsletter will be made, but other info/alerts will not be manually distributed.

Volunteer Interests (Check each one that interests you!)

Crime Watch Patrol Membership Committee Beautification Committee

Ten for TIN

Social Committee Block Captain Ten for TIN

4th of July Committee Newsletter Social Media/Website

Enclose Check or pay at www.marlboroughsquare.com

Annual Dues $40.00 MSNA Yard Sign $15.00 Donation _____ Total $______

Payable to MSNA and mail completed form to:

Marilyn Jones, 1505 Forsythe Drive, Richardson, TX 75081

Comments or Suggestions: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________