rna newsletter march 2010 vol. 7 issue 1

4
"#$%&’(( )(*+,-#’,##. )(/0 1#2$3( 45 600$( 7 89’:, ;<7< =,9*’>0 :#’%(’ =,9*’>0 :#’%(’ 7 )(*-#’,##. ?9&:, ; @#++#%( =#%:(’% ; A9*&* B9C( D92( E ")F )((.0 G#$’ A(2HI E J#:92B$0*%(00 K’#L*2( M ")F 8(3-(’0,*H M Inside this issue: ?,9& 39C(0 "#$%&’(( 9 N’(9& K29:( O# J*P(Q ! A wonderful neighbor- hood school ! Great Neighbors ! Homes with unique charm and character ! Beautiful tree-lined streets ! Proximity to the univer- sity and downtown ! A strong neighborhood association General Membership Meeting April 19th, 2010-7pm at Rountree School Library RNA Board Chairman Ken Reese [email protected] 417-869-6049 Vice Chair Vacant Secretary Nancy Chikaraishi [email protected] 417-869-5774 Treasurer Sara Hollis [email protected] MEMBERS AT LARGE Joanie Meinhardt 417-459-9578 Troy Meinhardt 417-459-9578 Bob Keyes 417-773-5175 I love the month of March in Rountree. Although the infamous ice storm of ‘07 thinned our unique center city tree canopy, many have come back strong and again will provide the much needed shade around here come July. The trees we planted as a result of our partnership with the City to replace the trees we lost now have a couple years growth and are helping restore the ma- ture landscaping you see throughout this area. The season of spring also brings new issues and concerns for the neighbor- hood that we will be discussing at the upcoming general membership meeting for our neighborhood association on April 19th at the Rountree School Li- brary. Please come by and see what you can to do to help maintain the unique character of our neighborhood. Ken Reese

Upload: charles-whisler

Post on 11-Mar-2016

221 views

Category:

Documents


3 download

DESCRIPTION

Rountree Nieghborhood Association Newsletter. March 2010, Volume 7, Issue 1. Springfield Missouri RNA,

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: RNA Newsletter March 2010 Vol. 7 Issue 1

!"#$%&'((!)(*+,-#',##.!)(/0!

!1#2$3(!45!!600$(!7! 89':,!;<7<!

=,9*'>0!:#'%('!

=,9*'>0!:#'%('!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!7!

)(*-#',##.!?9&:,!!!!!!!!!;!

@#++#%(!=#%:('%!!!!!!!!!!;!

A9*&*!B9C(!D92(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!E!

")F!)((.0!G#$'!A(2HI!!!E!

J#:92B$0*%(00!K'#L*2(!!M!

")F!8(3-('0,*H!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!M!

Inside this issue:

?,9&!39C(0!"#$%&'((!9!N'(9&!K29:(!O#!J*P(Q!!!!!" A wonderful neighbor-

hood school!!!" Great Neighbors !" Homes with unique

charm and character !" Beautiful tree-lined

streets !" Proximity to the univer-

sity and downtown !" A strong neighborhood

association

General Membership Meeting April 19th, 2010-7pm at Rountree School Library

RNA Board

Chairman Ken Reese [email protected] 417-869-6049 Vice Chair Vacant Secretary Nancy Chikaraishi [email protected] 417-869-5774 Treasurer Sara Hollis [email protected]

MEMBERS AT LARGE

Joanie Meinhardt 417-459-9578 Troy Meinhardt 417-459-9578 Bob Keyes 417-773-5175

I love the month of March in Rountree. Although the infamous ice storm of ‘07 thinned our unique center city tree canopy, many have come back strong and again will provide the much needed shade around here come July. The trees we planted as a result of our partnership with the City to replace the trees we lost now have a couple years growth and are helping restore the ma-ture landscaping you see throughout this area. The season of spring also brings new issues and concerns for the neighbor-hood that we will be discussing at the upcoming general membership meeting for our neighborhood association on April 19th at the Rountree School Li-brary. Please come by and see what you can to do to help maintain the unique character of our neighborhood. Ken Reese

Page 2: RNA Newsletter March 2010 Vol. 7 Issue 1

1#2$3(!45!!*00$(!7! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!K9+(!; Since becoming the new chair of the RNA I've been alarmed at the number of stories I've heard pertaining to home burglaries, vehicles that have been broken into, and even inebriated college students found sleeping in the basement of someone's home! Undoubtedly the current economic situation along with an increase in home foreclosures has pushed people that were living on the edge to take even more desperate measures and our neighborhood is not immune. In trying to find some concrete information regarding crime rates I went to the city's website and found a link called Crimeseen. This tool allows you to view reported incidents of crime throughout the city. While the area defined by the RNA boundaries thankfully had few reports, it is not too far from here where the number and variety of crimes is high enough to make anyone uncomfortable. Given our center city proximity and the fact that there are now homes in our neighborhood that are sitting empty either through foreclosure or while waiting for renters, I think it is incumbent upon us who care deeply about this neighborhood to consider more drastic action to insure we preserve the integrity and value of our homes and neighborhood. It is my view that perhaps this action should include the incorporation of a neighborhood watch program. In addition to crime, the proximity of many homes to the MSU campus has often led to properties that consistently present challenges to homeowners living nearby. While rental properties are going to be a fact of life given our location, I think it is a good idea that as homeowners we understand who owns these properties and that they communicate to their tenants the rules regarding the Urban Conservation District in which the majority of the RNA is located. Most rental property owners understand our concerns and are just as interested in maintaining the value of their property, others are not. There are also many renters who are ideal tenants and neighbors and it is often former renters who lived in this community that later become homeowners. If you have affected by any of the issues discussed above, we are interested in hearing from you and encourage you to come to the April general meeting of the neighborhood association to share your story and ideas on how we can better tackle these problems.

Is Neighborhood Watch a Good Idea for Rountree?

!"#!$!%&''&(#!'&&%!(#)'*"&+

Its hard to imagine right now as I sit here typing this letter with 6 inches of fresh fallen snow on the ground but this is a neighborhood of walkers, runners, and front porch sitters. Perhaps as you read this newsletter we are on the cusp of a beautiful spring day here in the Ozarks which always brings the neighborhood to life with people and their pets. It is within this context that I write to express some concerns I have heard from fellow neighbors since becoming the chair of the RNA. It should go without saying that a few simple courtesies should be followed when walking pets in the neighborhood. First, be sure to clean up after your pet while on a walk rather than leave an unsavory discovery for that poor homeowner. We've all had the unpleasant experience of finding what has been left behind and that it most often is found on accident. I thought it might also be useful to mention that bio-bag dog waste bags are now widely available that will decompose in landfills. I found some of these bio-degradable bags at www.buygreen.com and most would agree they are much preferred to the polyethylene poop preserver we create when using old grocery sacks.

Page 3: RNA Newsletter March 2010 Vol. 7 Issue 1

Rountree Kindergartners Host a Bake Sale for Relief in Haiti

!!1#2$3(!45!*00$(!7! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!K9+(!E

It was a cold and nasty day in late January that I began to notice a lot of red signs hanging on various light poles throughout the neighborhood. As most of you are aware it is not uncommon to see signs for lost dogs, cats, household cleaning services, etc. But the number of flyers that kept popping up grabbed my attention enough that I had to take a closer look. That was how I came to discover that on Saturday, January 23rd, several of our local kindergartners from Rountree had organized a bake sale to raise money for earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. On another cold, rainy day, I made my way to 651 S Pickwick the morning of January 23rd to the home of Crista and William Garvin who were hosting the bake sale. Given the weather conditions I had serious concerns as to how much success they would have in bringing people out, even for a cause as worthy as this. To my delight I found out that the kids, having set a goal of $1000 had already exceeded this goal and were still going strong! The bake sale idea was hatched originally by Sam and Katherine DeLong who were quick to find over 20 families willing to bake goods for this effort. Along with Sam, other kindergartners who joined in the effort that day were Lily Ashton, Olivia and Jack Brinkman, Hannah and Will Young, and Sam Garvin. In addition to creating over 45 flyers to hang in the neighborhood, these kids also created over 350 flyers that they delivered door to door to get the word out. The money raised on this day was going to be directed to our own local Convoy of Hope while the remaining baked goods were to be part of a chili supper and bake sale the following Tuesday at the school which was going to support Doctors without Borders. I have to admit I was pretty impressed that a group of kindergartners was not only aware of what was happening in this part of the world but felt moved enough that they could do something to help. In hindsight I realize surprise should not have been my first reaction, that sort of "can do" attitude is indicative of the fabric of this neighborhood and why so many of us love living here.

THE RNA NEEDS YOUR HELP!!

Have you ever thought I'd like to help and be part of the RNA but I just don't have the time? Well here is an opportunity for you that is easy. We currently have about 5-7 of us who hand deliver this newsletter to every house in the RNA. As happy as we are to do this it does take a considerable amount of time to walk from house to house. If you would be willing to become a "block captain" and take responsibility for delivering to your section of the RNA won't you please contact me? A map of the RNA is available on our site at www.rountreenews.org and you can email me through the site or call at the contact info provided here. Thanks!

Page 4: RNA Newsletter March 2010 Vol. 7 Issue 1

!!1#2$3(!45!*00$(!7! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!K9+(!M!

Rountree supports neighborhood business owners From time to time the RNA has profiled local business in this publication. The focus of the these stories have usually been on our neighbors in Pickwick Place. We have decided to expand the profiles to include business owners living in the Rountree neighborhood. If you would like to have your business profiled in the next or a future Rountree Neighborhood News go to rountreenews.org and contact a member of the board.

Living in the Rountree area for the better part of 20 years now, I can’t imagine living anywhere else. It’s where my friends and family call home. With spring right around the corner its time to think of ways to spruce up the house. For many that may mean landscaping or more importantly the lawn. Mature yards can be a challenge to turn around. Many yards have been neglected by previous owners or overtaken by bermuda grass and other stub-born weeds. Not to worry. I will be happy to stop by and discuss how professional lawn services can give you the lawn you have always wanted. The charm and unique character of these homes combined with the curb appeal of a great yard will further enhance the beauty our neighborhood. As somebody who enjoys the beauty and recreational opportunities the Ozarks provides I am concerned about the preservation and conservation of our lakes, rivers, and groundwater. By following responsible application methods it is possible to get desirable results while preserving and contributing to the overall health of the environment. A thick healthy lawn actually acts like a natural filtration system and provides beneficial oxygen! If you would like to discuss how Ferti-Lawn can give your home the yard it deserves give me a call @ 831-5296. I will be happy to stop by and evaluate what your lawn needs to be its best. I look forward to working with the residents of Rountree! Craig Hornbuckle, FertiLawn Visit our website www.fertilawn.net

Rountree Neighborhood membership funds go to support neighborhood efforts such as the newsletter, trash pick-up and social events. We are hoping that everyone eligible for RNA membership will join.

YOUR SUPPORT WILL MAKE THIS GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD EVEN BETTER!

SEND BOTTOM PORTION WITH PAYMENT

Meet Craig Hornbuckle, Owner of FertiLawn

ROUNTREE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

NAME ADDRESS PHONE # EMAIL ADDRESS MEMBERSHIP LEVELS: Individual--$5, Family--$10, Business--$25 MAIL TO: Sara Hollis, 1326 E. Delmar St., Springfield, MO 65804