Wrangler Bike Safety Rodeo

The Wrangler Bike Safety Rodeo is a fun, interactive event that teaches basic safety skills, providing a foundation for riding independently in our community.

Date: September 24th, 2011

Time:
9:00-11:00 (Rodeo) Kids and parents learn about bicycle maintenance, Texas bike laws, and safe biking practices

11:00-12:00 (Neighborhood Roll) Kids and parents apply their learning on a supervised neighborhood ride (20 persons per group).

Location: Roscoe-Wilson Elementary School Playground and Tech Terrace neighborhood (for the Neighborhood Roll.)

Participants: Roscoe-Wilson Elementary students and their families

Requirements: Bring your bike and helmet and bike riding clothes. Drinks and snacks provided. Participants must sign a Release Form http://www.biketexas.org/en/component/docman/doc_download/80-release-form-template

Riders and families will learn, as they go through the course (maybe even more than once) the basics of: bike rules, helmet fitting, bike maintenance, basic riding skills and decision making on a course. Riders can then apply what they’ve learned on a supervised neighborhood roll. In groups of 20 or so (3 leaders per group on an identified course) students will use their new skills.

An Alert From A Tech Parent.

UNIT News received the following email on October 30th.

My son lives at 3018 33rd and a friend came by tonight and saw a man trying to break in the house next door. She called the cops but they were busy and didn't seem interested. Thief was a bald hispanic male with a green duffle bag driving a older model Capri. Their car was broke into last saturday night. Thief didnt get anything of value. Cops said there were other breakins around 11:30. We're having an alarm system put in next week. Just wanted to warn you to keep an eye out for this thug. Thanks, Donna (TTU Mom)

Bicycle Accident at 22nd and Flint

Tuesday night I was westbound at the stop sign at 22^nd & Flint right after dark.   A Lexus sedan was  eastbound at the stop sign.  I noticed a bicycle light heading south on the EAST SIDE of Flint (wrong side).  I waited for it but the Lexus proceeded through the intersection and hit  the bike.  The bicyclist slid into the front of car.  She got up and moved to the sidewalk.  I exited the truck  and offered to render assistance but was declined.  The Lexus driver  was visibly upset.  The bicyclist was upset.  But the facts of the matter  are  the bicyclist  was wearing dark clothing at night and riding on the wrong side of the street.  I would not have seen her if she had not had a small light on the front of the bike.  She was wearing a helmet.   I would never ride a bike on Flint or on any street after dark in Lubbock.  

Traffic Around Roscoe Wilson Elementary School

Traffic around Roscoe Wilson can be frustrating. The following was received from Paula Finney, Principal for our neighborhood elementary school concerning traffic issues:


Changes in our traffic management procedures.


Due to obvious dangers, Student Safety Patrol Leaders will no longer be stepping into the street to assist with traffic and crossings.


On behalf of the Roscoe Wilson PTA, our President , Mrs. Karen Carruth, and I met with Chief Mark Hinshaw regarding the numerous traffic and safety issues which affect our campus.


Chief Hinshaw has agreed to work with us in presenting these issues to the City of Lubbock as well as support us in increasing the patrols in our area.


In the meantime we are working each day to teach our students about safety in our crossing areas and streets, acquiring additional safety patrol equipment, and continuing to insure our students’ safety, first and foremost.


As parents, I am asking you to help us in the following ways:


SLOW DOWN

Avoid westbound drop offs.

Always pull over to the curb and drop your child off and do this quickly.


If you would like to walk your child inside the building please avoid the drop off areas and pull to the east or west of the drop off areas.


Do not park in the loading areas.


Encourage your child to be prepared once you have pulled over to the curb to let them off and move quickly to exit the car carefully.


Proceed slowly through our street. We have in excess of 500 students that must be dropped off each day and children are coming from many directions. There is no acceptable reason for a speed in excess of 25 miles an hour on our school streets in the morning or the afternoon.


Please avoid any activity that distracts you from focusing on your driving including cell phone usage.


Finally, as you wake up each day, let us all take a moment to slow down and think about how precious our children are to us. Your cooperation in our school zone is critical to the safety and well being of our Wranglers. I ask your undivided and focused attention to the safety of these precious children as we work together to create a safe learning environment wherein they may all thrive and grow each and every day.




Paula Finney, Principal
Lubbock Independent School District
Roscoe Wilson Magnet Elementary School
2807 25th Street
Lubbock, Texas 79410
(806) 766-0922

Don't Let Your Guard Down

The following was shared with UNIT News by Dennis- a neighbor in the 2600 block of 21st Street.

Hi all,

My name is Dennis, and most of the time i just read the emails that are sent and rarely do i comment on anything. Although I keep track if most of the neighborhood decisions and meetings since I work for the city, I try to just listen and not get involved, but I care greatly about this neighborhood, this is where I went to school, and now where I reside with my wife on 2621 21st St. Just wanted to let everyone know to be careful. About 3 hrs ago, we heard a noise in the backyard that I didn't go check out. Sounded like tapping on the windows, and fell back asleep. We woke up to a brick through our back bedroom/office.... Someone tried to break in. Because of the repaving of 21st St and around the Boston area, we parked our car at a different location, and I guess someone thought my wife and I were not home. The police came by and tried to see if they could fngerprint anything laying around, but could not because of the rain. I wonder how long they had been looking at our house, since this was the only time we did not have our car parked in the driveway. All, please be careful. As of tomorrow morning, more security lights and an alarm system will be installed.  We hope this keeps burglars away.

Dennis

So Lets Keep These Tips in Mind:

• Keep all doors and windows closed and securely fastened. An open window or door is an open invitation for burglars. Thieves are also quick to spot weak locks that may be easily forced open. Doors should have deadbolt locks with a one inch throw and reinforced strike plate with three inch screws. All windows should have window locks
• Secure sliding glass doors. Place a metal rod or piece of plywood in the track and install vertical bolts. These will help prevent burglars from forcing the door open or lifting it off the track.
• Always lock the door to an attached garage. Don't rely on your automatic garage door opener for security.
• Create the illusion that you are home by using timers on lights, radios and TV's. Making your residence appear occupied, even when no one is home, will deter criminals.
• Keep the perimeter of your home well lighted. Installing low voltage outdoor lighting is a cost-effective way to discourage intruders, as well as highlight a house.
• Never leave clues that you are away on a trip. Have a trusted neighbor collect mail and newspapers while you are away so delivered items do not accumulate. You can also ask a neighbor to park in your driveway or parking place to make it appear that you are present.
• Keep some shades and blinds up and curtains open to maintain a normal, everyday appearance in your residence.
• Never leave a message on your telephone answering machine telling people that you are away from home. A message that you will return at a certain time leaves your home vulnerable in the interim.
• Be careful what you post on the Facebook- criminals use the computers they have stolen
• Keep shrubbery trimmed away from entrances and walkways. While large, ornate hedges may be beautiful, they also provide a hiding place for burglars who need only a minute to break in through a window or door.
• Organize a community watch program to protect your neighborhood. An alert community is a safe community.

Most petty thieves are lazy, a well lighted house with large loud dog is not is an inviting target.

Neighbors Urged To Be Vigilant

The following was shared with UNIT News for general distribution. Just a warning.... Wed, February 3, 2010 12:30:22 PM From: "Paulk, Elizabeth" To: "techterraceunitnews@yahoo.com" Every one is probably aware that there are companies who hire groups of kids from out of town to go door to door pretending to do “public relations” work when really they are trying to sell magazines. We had one such individual who came to the house last night at 8:30pm (it was dark) and was not up front about selling the magazines in his speech. Also he was very rude when we refused to buy any. My husband is a police detective with more than 8 years on the street and 5 years in SWAT. He went out of the house to find this guy, and when he did, my husband started to ask him a few questions – where did he live, does he have a license to sell things door to door etc…. All he got in return was lies from the magazine guy: he was a TTU student, he was a nursing student, he was a freshman (there are no nursing students who are freshmen) etc. and in the end, David managed to spook the guy out of the neighborhood. However, I just wanted to warn other neighbors that these guys were mounting a fresh attack and would probably be back. They are very forward and seem nice, but their motives are not altruistic. I would love to know if there was something we could do about these, but we have found that the quickest/safest way to get rid of them is to ask for their copy of the City-issued selling license (which they probably won’t have) and refuse to buy their magazines. He came in the dark, Tech Terrace is not well lit, and I felt at risk from this guy. Just wanted to warn other people about these folks – they are not legitimate in any way, shape or form. Thanks liz