On Saturday, May 9, the citizens of Rowlett voted to approve Proposition 1 supporting a smoking ban ordinance for the City of Rowlett. This ordinance prohibits smoking in restaurants, businesses and within 15 feet of commercial establishments.

The ordinance becomes effective on Tuesday, May 19 following the canvassing of the election, but enforcement will not begin until Saturday, June 20. This grace period will provide business owners time to transition to a non-smoking establishment and educate their employees, patrons and visitors about the smoking ban.

The Rowlett Code Enforcement Division and the Rowlett Police Department will enforce this new law.

Business owners and smokers are subject to a citation and fine of $200 for non-compliance of this ordinance.

Under the provisions of the ordinance, business owners are required to post proper signage about the ordinance. To help expedite that process, the City of Rowlett will be mailing businesses most affected by the ban a “no smoking” window sticker for posting in entrance areas.

The City Council originally approved the ordinance in February 2009, but postponed its implementation after 521 citizens filed a petition to repeal the ordinance. The City Council decided instead to hold a special election to allow voters to determine the fate of the ordinance.

The new ordinance is being publicized through direct mail to local businesses, the media, RTN16, the City’s cable access channel, city newsletters and the city web site. A complete version of the smoking ordinance is available at www.rowlett.com.

ROCKWALL, ROWLETT, HEATH & ROYSE CITY

“Fresh Picks” features top stories posted by contributors at neighborsgo.com for and about the Rockwall, Rowlett, Heath and RoyseCity areas. Look for them in next week’s issue or find quick links to all of them right now, right here:   

>> ROCKWALL/HEATH

Free astronomy classes, stargazing in May http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/35832

 Sheri Stodghill Fowler unveils ‘Images of America: Rockwall           ’http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/35815

Rockwall County Helping Hands needs your support http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/35669

Art League welcomes photographer at May 20 meeting http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/35625

Downtown merchants to host Sip & Stroll http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/35612

‘Mulching for Dummies’ at Harry Myers Park http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/35556

>> ROWLETT 

GISD theater honored at Patty Granville Awards http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/35767

Rowlett Chamber cuts ribbon for Which Wich http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/35585

Rowlett Chamber cuts ribbon for Spine Team Texas http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/35565

Rowlett Chamber cuts ribbon for Wing Aero Products http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/35501

Rowlett eighth-grader sets school pole vault record http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/35783

>> NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS 

Local business earns Consumer Choice Award http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/35777

Daylily Growers to host flower show http://www.neighborsgo.com/stories/35596

You, too, can post your news, photos, videos and blogs at neighborsgo.com. Then look for them in our neighborsgo print edition Fridays in home-delivered copies of The Dallas Morning News and our local Starbucks.

Participants, including several local fans, will be volunteering at three different locations - Habitat for Humanity in Rockwall, PediPlace of Lewisville, and Goodwill Industries in Dallas. Some of the volunteers are coming from as far aways as Illinois, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Louisiana.

Donna's video lays out their plans, which also include attending services on Sunday at Jason's home church, Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall. A luncheon will follow.

Donna promises to post pictures from these volunteer projects at neighborsgo.com - so stay tuned and remember to "Shine Your Light."

Rockwall Chamber president Margie Hooper alerted neighborsgo to an opportunity that Costco is offering to promote local business. It's part of Costco Wholesale's community event happening 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, May 16, which raises funds for Children's Miracle Network.

Hooper says your $200 entry fee goes directly to the Children's Medical Center of Dallas, and Costco will also match of portion of monies raised. Costco Wholesale provides participants with a table, trash receptacle and power if needed. Hooper reports that you can give out free samples, coupons, other giveaways, literature and promotional materials. You can also take orders for future delivery. However, they have requested that there are no money transactions or exchange of merchandise.

Hooper points out that this is not a Chamber event. Those interested should work directly with Costco, by calling Ashley Flach, Costco's marketing manager, at 972-772-1600. 

Life is good in the City of Rockwall. It would be near perfect if traffic problems were eliminated and Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Barnes & Noble, Dillard’s and Central Market or Whole Foods would locate here.

Those and other findings were tracked in the 2008 Citizen Survey conducted by Raymond Turco & Associates. Results were taken from the 1,541 surveys completed from a mailing to 12,719 households in October and November 2008.

Nearly everyone responding to the survey (95 percent) indicated they were satisfied (51 percent) or very satisfied (44 percent) with the quality of life in their community. Dissatisfaction has declined since 2003 from 8 percent in 2003 to 7 percent in 2005 to its current rate of 4 percent.

Seven out of 10 responders agreed that, as a community, Rockwall has improved.Traffic/lack of roads (42 percent) was considered by far the most critical issue facing the city today. On the plus side, that is down 10 percent from the 2005 survey.

The strength of citizen support and the passion they showed for the city indicate a major improvement in their perception of Rockwall, said city manager Julie Couch. “Across the board, we see improvement,” she said, noting that since the survey was taken a specific retail operation (Costco) and an entertainment outlet with bowling (Shenaniganz) - both high on responders’ list of desired businesses - have opened. 

Trends showed city services improving and property maintenance standards to be overwhelmingly supported.

Highest rated city services were:·       

General community safety (95 percent)·       

Ambulance (96 percent)·       

Police (95 percent)·       

Opportunities offered at The Harbor District (92 percent

Fire (91 percent)

Animal control (91 percent)

City services with the lowest approval ratings were:·        Efforts with major roadways (35 percent)·       

Efforts to improve traffic movement (45 percent)    

Preservation/revitalization of Downtown Square (61 percent)

Maintenance of neighborhood streets (61 percent)

Opportunities offered at Historic Downtown area (68 percent)

In other findings, 89 percent of responders said they could find what they wanted to buy in Rockwall. Books topped the list of items difficult to find followed by clothing and shoes, furniture and specialty food grocery stores. 78 percent said there were ample entertainment opportunities in the city.

Assistant city manager Rick Crowley said he was pleased with the improvement in city service ratings, adding that, “It’s also nice to know that citizens said they could generally buy what they wanted, go out to dinner and pursue entertainment in Rockwall.

”Responders ranked Lake Ray Hubbard and a small town atmosphere as contributing to making Rockwall a unique place to live. They overwhelmingly supported continuing the police department’s Holiday Crime Watch program (98 percent) and increased patrol of neighborhoods and commercial areas (96 percent).

Local newspapers remain the most popular source for information about the city along with the newsletter inserted in water bills, word-of-mouth, the City Fun Guide and city Web site. Water bill inserts gained in reliability, but not local newspapers or word-of-mouth.

Jogging/biking trails, more neighborhood parks and a performing arts center topped the list of park and other facility projects residents would most strongly support being funded by the city in the next five years.

This just in from Kristy Ashberry, assistant to the city manager in Rockwall:

It hasn’t been confirmed, but the City of Rockwall has been notified that a toddler may have contracted swine flu (now referred to as H1N1 flu).

The City was notified by the Rockwall County Health Authority Tuesday that this was the first probable case of H1N1 flu.

The case was sent to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) for further testing and confirmation. Dr. Carl McKenney of the RockwallCounty Health Authority and Dr. David Lensch, the city’s Public Health Official, are working closely with state public health officials to ensure there is proper care for patients and residents.

The child has been staying at home and has not been in daycare. Dr. McKenney began necessary antiviral treatments for the child and precautionary isolation to prevent further exposure.

Symptoms of H1N1 flu include fever, cough and runny nose and possible other symptoms such as body aches, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact their health provider. There is no vaccine available at this time.

It is important that parents of young children, pregnant women, persons with chronic diseases or compromised immune systems pay close attention to any related changes to their health, and follow these CDC guidelines to help limit their exposure:·        

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough.·        

Wash hands often with soap and water or with an alcohol based hand cleaner.·        

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.  Germs spread that way.·        

Try to avoid close contact with sick people

If you get sick, the CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Additional information is available on the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/flu/swine/index.htm or the Department of State Health Services at www.dshs.state.tx.us/swineflu, which also has a public call center available to answer questions at 1-888-777-5320.

This just in from the Rockwall ISD: 

            “Re-scheduling Rachel's Rally to May 20th will help to provide a safe and healthy atmosphere for our students, staff and community,” said district spokesperson Sheri Fowler.  “The health and well-being of our students is a top priority in Rockwall ISD and we continue to work with county health officials and to consult additional outside sources on a daily basis regarding H1N1 flu awareness.”

 “We hope that all those who were planning on attending Rachel’s Rally on its original date will be able to attend the re-scheduled event on May 20,” said Ms. Fowler. 

For more information about Rachel’s Challenge, log on to rachelschallenge.com. For more information about the Rachel’s Challenge program in Rockwall ISD, log onto rockwallisd.com.  If you have questions regarding the re-scheduling of the Rally, please call the RockwallIndependentSchool District at 972-771-0605.