D’s 1996 NEWCOMERS’ GUIDE

AOCORDING TO RECENT POPULATION STATISTICS RELEASED by the North Central Texas Council of Governments, 420,000 people made the Dallas-Fort Worth area their new home in the last five years; 30 percent of them settled in Dallas County, 31 percent in Tarrant County, and 12 percent in Collin County. Burgeoning new-house construction in all of the suburbs, especially places like Piano, Carrollton, and Arlington, is evidence that growth will continue. For all those newcomers, here is a guide to your new hometown, including information on resources for settling in, schools, local government, transportation, and much more. Welcome to Dallas-Fort Worth!

PLUGGING IN: ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Most numbers below are for services in the city of Dallas and Dallas County; we’ve included other counties as applicable. Unless otherwise noted, all phone numbers are Dallas, area code 214.

How Do I Get My Texas Driver’s License?

To get around this city, you have to have a car. And that means a trip to the Department of Public Safety. To obtain a Texas driver’s license, an out-of-state newcomer must ( 1 ) be 18 or older, (2) apply for a license at one of the many DPS testing stations, (3) produce a certified copy of his or her birth certificate or a valid out-of-state driver’s license, (4) pass a written examination, (5) pass a driving skills test if the out-of-state license has expired, (6) take a vision test, and (7) show proof of liability insurance. Sixteen- and 17-year-olds may be licensed only il they have completed a certified driver-education program, are enrolled in school, and have attended at least 80 days of the previous school semester. For DPS hours and locations, call 226-5370.

Where Do I Get My Vehicle Registered?

Out-of-state vehicles may be registered for Texas license plates at substations of your county tax assessor’s office, which are located throughout North Texas. To get a Texas tag, you must ( 1 ) complete a safety inspection at a service station or a car dealership, (21 surrender your out-of-state tide, (3) show proof of liability insurance, and (41 pay a $15 new resident’s fee, plus a $13 title fee and the cost of your license plates (based on the model year for cars and gross weight for trucks), which must be displayed on the front and rear of your vehicle. For more information, call 653-7621 in Dallas County, 817-884-1100 in Tarrant County, and 547-5014 in Collin County.



Where Do I Get My Car Inspected?

Once a year, all vehicles registered in Texas must be inspected for safety and to have their serial numbers verified. The fee for an inspection sticker is $19.25 in Dallas and Tarrant counties and $10.50 in Collin and Denton counties.

To meet federal clean air requirements, cars in Dallas and Tarrant counties must also undergo an emissions inspection, which accounts for the additional cost. At press time, the state was considering increasing the charge for emissions inspections, bringing the total cost to $23.50. If approved, the new pricing would go into effect on July 1. The price may also vary depending on the model and year of your car and on any repairs necessary to bring the vehicle up to safety standards. Inspections can be done at various service stations, dealerships, and garages where the state’s “Vehicle Inspection Station” sign is posted.



How Can I Register to Vote?

You must (1) be an American citizen, (2) be 18 years of age, (3 ) have a permanent residential address within the county where you are registering, and (4) not have been convicted of a felony or found mentally incompetent by a court of law. If you meet these requirements, you need to fill our a registration form and return it at least 30 days before the election in which you want to vote. In Dallas County, send it to the Elections Department, Records Building, 509 Main St., Dallas, 75202.

If you are registering in another county, call the Elections Department office in that county for the address. Voter registration cards can be obtained at branches of the tax office, post office, library, or any federal office. Also, when you get your new driver’s license, they will ask you if you want to register to vote; with your signature, they can take care of it automatically. For more information in Dallas County, call 653-7871.



Can Homeowners Claim a Tax Exemption?

You bet. Every homeowner living within an independent school district in Texas has the right to claim on school taxes an exemption of $5,000 per year of the total assessed value of his or her house. Optional homestead exemptions may be offered by individual city or county governments, too. To qualify, you must have title to the property on Jan. 1 of the tax year and reside in the house. An affidavit claiming the homestead exemption must be filed with your local appraisal district office: Dallas Central Appraisal District, 631-0910, Tarrant Appraisal District, 817-284-0024, Central Appraisal District of Collin County, 390-7990.



How Will I Find My Way Around?

It s not just a map of Dallas-Fort Worth area streets; it’s a bible for North Texans new and old. MAPSCO is published in book form and updated and reissued each November in Fort Worth, Dallas, and Mid-Citics editions. MAPSCO is sold at office supply stores, bookstores, and selected grocery- and drugstores. Suggested retail price: $25.95 plus tax. Call 521-2131for more information.

Where Is My Local Post Office?

For general information on postal service, call 741-5508 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. For ZIP code information, call 647-2996 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. Maps denoting ZIP codes are also included in the MAPSCO books.

What About Public Transportation?

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) runs the public transportation in Dallas and many of its suburbs. Buses go to and from downtown (premium service, $2} and around downtown (local service, $1). DART has just begun light-rail service from downtown to points in South and West Oak Cliff. Within a few months the trains will run north to Park Lane at Central Expressway. In late 1996 DART diesel trains will link downtown’s Union Station, the Market Center, and the South Irving Transit Center. For information and schedules on DART buses and light rail, call 979-1111.

Bus service in Fort Worth is operated by The T. Bus rides around downtown are free, and the fare on other routes around the city is 80 cents. For information and schedules, call 817-871-6200.

How Do I Recycle?

In Dallas: The City of Dallas publishes a book listing the locations of drop-off centers by ZIP code and what types of materials die centers take. It also tells you where to take household hazardous waste, like paints, turpentine, and poisons, and where to take grass clippings, which are not collected on regular routes. To get this book, call 670-4475.

In Fort Worth: Recycling is a curbside service. While there are no compost drop-off sites (mulching and composting are encouraged), city-provided compost is available to residents. Information: 817-871-5171.

In Arlington: A curbside program is in place; new residents receive details when they sign up for water service. Residents can also use dropoff centers throughout the city. There is a ban on putting grass clippings in the regular garbage, but the city does collect other yard waste, such as bundled tree limbs. In April, the city holds a household hazardous waste collection. Information: 817-459-6771.

In Piano: The city, which received the 1996 award for best community-wide recycling program from the Recycling Coalition of Texas, collects recyclables curbside, and new residents receive details with their new refuse cans or in their utility bill.

Yard clippings are also collected curbside once a week, but must be in special bags sold at all fire stations and the city warehouse, 4100 W. Piano Pkwy., where residents can also pick up free compost. Household hazardous waste is picked up curbside with a one-day nonce. Information: 964-4150.

Recycling guidelines and garbage pick-up rules vary widely among the outlying communities; contact the sanitation department of your city to get details on the local program.



How Do I Get Further Information?

With a subscription to D Magazine, in-depth coverage of the people, events, and news in the Dallas-Fort Worth area comes right to your mailbox. For a subscription, call 1-800-732-9673.

Newcomer packets for Dallas containing general information on topics such as housing and education, including a map of Dallas and surrounding areas, can be obtained by calling Cynthia Alanis at 746-673 9 or by writing to the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce, Attn.: Jeff Litsch, 1201 Elm St., Ste. 2000, Dallas, Texas, 75270. The packets are $ 15; checks and credit cards are accepted.

A Fort Worth relocation guide is available containing information on neighborhoods, the economy, transportation, health care, education, amenities, apartment listings, and real estate and employment agencies that are members of the chamber. Send $3 for postage to the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, 777 Taylor St., Suite 900, Fort Worth, Texas, 76102. Information: 817-336-2491.

An Arlington newcomer’s packet is free. To get one by mail, call 817-275-2613 or write to the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 1486, Arlington, Texas, 76004-1486.

REFERRAL SERVICES

Information and Referral Service. 747-3711. Sponsored by the United Way, this service specializes in referrals for health, counseling, welfare, financial aid, and recreation services. Also, there’s the Information and Referral Center of Plano, 422-1850.

Newcomers’ Club of Greater Dallas. 387-2980. Frances Burnett, president. Social club with monthly luncheons, monthly coffees for new members, bridge, cooking groups, area tours, and a theater group, among other activities. Membership fee is $18 a year; includes a newsletter and yearbook.

North Dallas Newcomer’s Club. 491 6876. Joy Thon, prospective members chair. Social club with 360 members, offering some 25 different activities, including luncheons, bridge, golf, and programs about the area. Regular meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month.

Dallas County Medical Society. 948-3622. Callers are given the names of doctors in their area. The society can also provide the credentials (training, certifications, and age) of member doctors. When you call, tell the operator you are seeking a referral.

Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council. 719-4900. This agency will advise you of the hospital nearest you and the various services area hospitals offer.

D Magazine. In May, the magazine published a cover story about Dallas’ Top Doctors. Almost 300 physicians are listed with their specialties, addresses, and phone numbers. A limited number of copies remain; call 939-3636 ext, 103 to order yours.

Dallas County Dental Society. 24 SMILE. A free dental referral service that is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Lawyer Referral Service. 979-9090. Sponsored by the Dallas Bar Association, this service can arrange an appointment for $20 for a 30-minute consultation.

Neighborhood Referral Service. 956-7255. A listing of reliable service people who can repair just about anything. (For North and Central Dallas.)

GETTING PLUGGED IN FAST: TIPS FROM TOP RELOCATION EXPERTS

OH, THE STRESS OF BEING NEW! BUT TAKE heart. You just need to feel more settled.So, grab a lemonade, take a load off, and let those mountains of boxes wait for a J moment. Here’s some advice from those whose profession it is to help re-connect the lifestyles of the shocked and weary.

Mary Harker, Re/Max of Texas Inc.: The hardest move is for moms with little kids. If you are one of them, go to a nearby park, Discovery Zone, Gymboree, the library, or the local YMCA to meet other moms. If you have a homeowners association, see if they have a baby-sitting co-op or a bridge group you can join. For moms with older kids, volunteering at your child’s school next month and joining the PTA Newcomers Club will give you an immediate connection.”

Joe Kobell, Ebby Halliday Realtors: “Don’t be afraid to rely on your real estate agent’s help after your move. Agents are generally your first contact and hopefully a nice introduction to Dallas. More and more agents today are willing to suggest doctors, dentists, painters, or help locate them. We have the resources to find the answers to just about anything. Recently, I searched natatoriums for a client whose daughters are competitive swimmers, for example.”

Beth Sutera, Coldwell Banker Paula Stringer Realtors: ” Having a positive attitude is critical to a good mood. Studies have shown that the parents’ attitude is the number one key to a child’s adjustment. Search out fun places your family might like to visit. Living in Dallas, you can take weekend trips in all directions. And be patient. You can only do so much each day. Lean on whatever resources you can find-like neighbors willing to help. And if neighbors are shy and don’t come to you, go to the neighbors! “

Cynthia Beaird, Win. Rigg Inc. Realtors: “Network with people who have your same business interests by joining a professional group or organization. Get involved in your local church or synagogue. Take a class at a local college. Volunteer at a children’s medical center or at one of the area’s junior leagues. This is just an incredible way to get involved with Dallas and the people.”

Dave Perry-Miller, Abio, Adleta & Poston Realtors: “Tap into friends from your former town, or college pals, or business associates. Ask them: ’Who do you know who’s in Dallas? Would you mind calling them, or writing them a note and telling them I’m in town?’ This is absolutely the most successful way to dovetail into you new city.”