One April Award Gets Deserved Recognition
The owners of 1227 West Sherwood Terrace, Amy and Joe Henry, are constantly being thanked by neighbors and passers-by for the fine job they did changing a long vacant and sort of ugly house into a lovely home and, now, a true award winner. With their young children Eve, Gus and Walt AND their home’s new curb appeal, they have really brought new life to the place.
Longtime residents of the area, they took up the vacant home challenge in 2008. New windows, gutters and front stoop were a start, but it was the new paint that really woke up this sleeping beauty. Changing the paint from all drab brown to a great taupe and charcoal grey combination did the trick, making the roof look brand new and the garage less prominent.
Inside, every room got a redo but the fine architectural elements – wrought iron railing, fireplace, china cabinet – remain. The kitchen is worthy of a magazine spread… what a new kitchen in an old house should be. There are more projects in the future: a family room and wooden fencing and new landscaping for the outside. I suggested a great little flowing shrub named Itea ‘Little Henry’. Henry, get it?
Amy jokes that she knows someone on every Southwood Park street, but it’s true that both she and Joe have been in Southwood Park for much of their lives. Joe says the neighborhood is the city’s gem. I say his house is a gem too.
–Pat Thomson
April Southwood Park News Is Available
The April edition of the Southwood Park News is now available online! A direct link is here: SPN 04.12. You can access all back issues of the newsletter by clicking on the Newsletters link near the top of the homepage.
Stories include the updated Board of Directors roster and election results (pictured below), an overview of residents’ concerns from the year-end ballots, Dirt Day details, Garage Sale dates, August Block Party notes, and a notice about the Foster Park Centennial celebration that is coming in July.
Paper copies of the April newsletter will be mailed in the coming days.
While I am in the mode of getting caught up, let me post here that copies of recent meeting minutes, treasury reports, and agenda are posted on the Association Information page. Here are direct links to the most recent of them: SP Agenda 03.14.12, SP Treasury 03.12, SP Minutes 1.11.12, and 2011 Year End Treasurer’s Report.
– Steve McCord
Spring Beautification Day: April 1st (That’s No Joke)
Southwood Park gardeners, mark your schedules for our Spring Beautification Day: this Sunday, April 1st, from 1 to 3PM.
Bring your gloves, water, and friends. We will primarily focus on spring pruning and mulching. You can RSVP to our event on the Southwood Park Facebook page. Questions? Phone Pat Thomson at 456-7468.
Ambassador Campus Properties Applies for Special Use Zoning Permit – Big Brothers Big Sisters Hoping to Move to Witmer Hall
Neighborhoods have been invited to a meeting called by Ambassador Campus Enterprises and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana. The meeting will be in the Eicher Commons, March 22nd at 6:30pm.
There have been hints of a big change coming to the Summit campus, and this 20 page packet arrived by mail today. You can look at the whole packet here: Ambassador BBBS packet.
In a nutshell, Big Brothers Big Sisters wants to move into Witmer Hall on the former TUFW campus. Ambassador Campus Properties is also opening its renovated buildings for public tours that night.
I will keep the neighborhood up to date with any further information that I might receive.
— Steve McCord
The March Board of Directors Meeting will be tomorrow night, March 14th at 7PM.
We have learned at the last moment that our normal meeting place is booked for another group, so there will be a change in location. Instead of the Friendly Fox, we will meet at Pat Thomson’s home, 1321 Sunset Drive. The “Annual Meeting” has been moved to May 9th.
Other meetings for the rest of the year will be at the Friendly Fox. Those dates are May 9th, July 11th, September 12th, and November 14th. The May 9th gathering will also serve as our “Annual Meeting”. City Councilman Geoff Paddock will be our guest. We’re looking forward to hearing his update and sharing a constructive dialogue.
— Steve McCord
46807 Quality of Life Initiative to Unveil Plans
The 46807 Quality of Life Initiative Steering Committee will be hosting a Roll Out party on Sunday, February 19th at Redeemer Lutheran Church from 2 to 3:30 pm. Come see the Plan and learn more about what’s next.
We will have a multimedia presentation to communicate last year’s accomplishments and we will also discuss next steps as we move forward.
What can you do? Connect with neighbors to identify or work toward goals for your street or association, strengthen existing projects or groups by participating, say hi to people as you come and go, and believe that this community can become anything we collectively work toward.
Redeemer Lutheran Church-Fort Wayne, 202 W. Rudisill Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46807
Patricia M. Turner
Community Engagement Coordinator
Pathfinder Community Connections
2012 Maintenance Fee Deadline
Association Homeowners: Today is the deadline for 2012 Maintenance Fees. To avoid any chance of incurring late fees, please have your payment postmarked today.
If you did not inform the Association of your forwarding address or change of address, your bill may be among those returned by the post office. Please contact us with your forwarding information.
Thank you to everyone who has paid on time this year! If you have any questions regarding your dues, please contact us at Southwood_Park@yahoo.com.
— Steve McCord
Foster Park Little League Baseball Registration in February
Can you believe it’s time to start thinking about baseball? Here’s a PSF (public service forward):
What: Foster Park Little League Registration (softball and baseball for all ages – T-ball through big leagues)
When: Saturday, February 11 AND Saturday, February 18 9:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. both days
What to Bring: Your child’s birth certificate and proof of residence (utility bill, driver license, etc.) and cash, check or visa/MC for payment
Where: The Summit (formerly Taylor University) Eicher Commons Building 915 West Rudisill Boulevard, Fort Wayne, IN 46807
Contact: If you have questions or need more information contact Eric Shroyer, FPLL President 937-673-3595 or visit the Foster Park Little League website at http://www.fosterparklittleleague.com/
Fort Wayne Police Department to Offer Crime Prevention Seminars
Here’s a message from the Fort Wayne Police Department about crime prevention seminars that they will offer:
In an effort to increase our department’s community policing crime prevention outreach, the Fort Wayne Police Department will be offering monthly seminars at the Public Safety Academy . These sessions, which will be open to area businesses and residents, will provide members of our community with valuable information which will help reduce their chances of becoming crime victims.
The seminars will include Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (“CPTED”) information, as well as preventative measures which can be taken to avoid becoming a victim of robbery, financial fraud, motor vehicle theft, burglary, and scam artists. The interrelationship between crime prevention, community oriented policing and problem-solving policing will also be a component of the seminar.
These seminars will be free to the public, and will be held the third Wednesday of every month from 7:00—8:00 pm at the Public Safety Academy , with the first session to begin MARCH 21, 2012.
For more information, visit the Crime Prevention link via the department’s web page or contact the Crime Prevention -Bureau at 260 427-1207.
Blackout
Consider how much this website has contributed to ideas and communication in our neighborhood. The same goes for our neighborhood Facebook group.
If the current PIPA and SOPA bills were passed by Congress, this group might become a thing of the past. Rather than blackout our sites, I’ll just recommend that you check out the following link and take action if you agree. Better yet, do your own research into the subject.
https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/
— Steve McCord
