WHERE: Frenchie’s, 54 East Cross Street, Ypsilanti, MI

WHEN: Wednesday, August 18th from 5:30 to 8:30 PM

WHAT: Appetizers, cash bar and information about their cause

COST: Donations accepted

Funds that they raise this summer and fall will be used for the schools in October! You can help make a huge difference in the lives of hundreds of eager students.

Visit their website at www.thekenyanpromise.org or email jnjenga@thekenyanpromise.org for more information.

Single family homes may set out six 32 gallon size containers and two large items. Duplexes may set out twelve 32 gallon size containers and four large items. Three unit homes or larger may set out eighteen 32 gallon size containers and six large items.

To dispose of items containing freon, please call the Public Services office at (734) 483-1421 for special instructions.

The neighborhoods surrounding our park (HESNA, PPNA, EPPNA, AND MILES) are inviting the community to join us. We are asking folks to help by bringing food and supplies for the work hours and for the Hoedown Potluck.

The following is a list of things we thought might be best, but whatever you would like to bring would be appreciated. Please let us know what you can do to contribute. Thanks in advance.

Brunch / Work
9AM – NOON
Finger Foods
Bread
Sandwiches
Donuts

Fruits
Bananas
Oranges
Apples

Healthy Snacks
Trail Mix
Energy Bars
Nuts
Granola

Sides
Cheese
Honey
Butter
Jam

Drinks
ALL DAY
Water
Coffee
Soda
Lemonade
Kool-aid

Potluck
NOON – 2PM
Hot Dogs
Hamburgers
Vegetarian Options
Side Salads
Casserole
Condiments
Chips
Sandwiches
Buns

Miscellaneous Supplies
ALL DAY
Plates
Cups
Napkins
Bowls
Grills
Charcoal
Tables
Chairs
Canopy
Serving Utensils
Eating Utensils
Balloons

Don’t forget to friend the Luna Lake Hoedown on Facebook and then head to the events page to confirm your attendance to the event.

Please Contact Mackenzi Rettie if you can help with any of the supplies. She will be coordinating with folks to make sure we have the supplies we will need. Thanks to everyone.

Mackenzi Rettie EPPNA
karenlea831@comcast.net
734-487-4029

Although this is the Second Annual Hoedown, the Luna Lake Native Plants Garden is now in its third year of existence and bearing out the old garden maxim of “First year sleep, second year crawl, third year run!”. What started out as a weedy, no-man’s land has grown into a thriving, lush native plants oasis in the City. The garden’s colorful wildflowers can be easily spotted from the Southeast corner of the intersection of Prospect & Cross Street and serve as a draw for many visitors to the Park. Your hard work and support has been recognized with a grant from the Wildflowers Association of Michigan, a Keep Michigan Beautiful Award, and, just this year, an Ypsi PRIDE Award from the Chamber of Commerce!

We hope that you will join us for this year’s Second Annual Luna Lake Hoedown, to be held Saturday, June 26th from 9AM -4PM to continue the good work that we’ve begun. Highlights of this year’s FREE event include musical performances by Afternoon Round, Hullaballoo, & Black Jake and the Carnies, and an “open mic” format, open to acoustic musicians of all ages and including a performance by the Adams Elementary Drum Circle. We will also host a Native Plant Sale from 10AM to 2PM as well as fun, family-oriented activities ranging from arts and crafts, directed by local business-owner Michele Shankweiler, to camp-type games led by the YMCA. Please refer to the attached fliers for a complete schedule of events as well as contact information, a list of native plants for sale, and a sign up sheet for potluck dishes. You can also “Friend” us and check out our Events Page on Facebook! Just search on “Luna Lake Hoedown”.

If you are interested in helping with gardening work, event clean up, providing food and beverages to share, sharing an ad-hoc musical performance, or just want to take part in the fun, we hope that you will join us in our efforts to preserve and enhance this community gem!

Sincerely,
Rachel E. Blistein

Download the Hoedown flier HERE.
Download the Plant Sale order form HERE.
Download the Potluck flier HERE.

DATE: Thursday, June 17, 2010
TIME: 7-8PM
LOCATION: Ypsilanti Food Co-Op, 312 North River Street

Please hop on your bike and join us for “Co-op Shop by Bike — with Bike Ypsi!” This practical and fun event will take place Thursday, June 17 at 7:00pm at the Food Co-op. The first hour will evaluate bikes and make recommendations for the best kinds of carriers, both DIY and purchased. How much can you safely carry? What foods travel best by bike? How can you pack & fasten grocery items onto your bike and get them home in good condition? Examples, experiences and educational materials will be provided by Bike Ypsi members. From 8 to 8:30, safe bike routes to and from the Co-op will be discussed. At 8:30pm, we’ll shop! To complete the evening, members of Bike Ypsi will ride you home with your safe and natural groceries, delivered home by human power alone!

Did you know: 1 pound of CO2 pollution is cut for every mile pedaled. 1 out of every two trips Americans make by car are less than 3 miles. 3 hours of riding per week reduces your risk of heart disease and stroke by 50%. And it’s fun!

**Dog attack 6/4/10 7pm on Forest St at a garage sale near Prospect party store**

Our dog Turner was attacked by 2 very large dark colored dogs on 6/4/2010 ~7pm. We think they were a female Pit Bull mix and an unnuetered male Cane Corso Mastiff both very large and dark in color. The dogs were being walked by 25 to 35 year old white woman with shoulder length brown hair, wearing a flowing patterned skirt with a solid blue sleeveless shirt. She claimed that the dogs were not hers and was quickly moving away from the attack. When she realized that the police were being called she quickly gave out a phone number and left the scene. Unfortunately, in the commotion the number was not saved. Please help us find the owner of these dogs! Please contact Amanda and Trey at (734)961-6671.

Thank you for all of your help,
Amanda Betzler and Trey Allen

These workshops will be held in the City Council Chambers on the 1st floor of Ypsilanti City Hall. The intent of these workshops is increase communication between the Historic District Commission, disseminate information regarding HDC ordinances, and to help property owners to realize the value of their historic resources and how they can best protect these resources.

Tuesday, June 8th: Introduction to Historic Preservation, 6pm
Tuesday, June 22nd: Historic Window Repair, 6pm
Saturday, July 24th: Federal and State Tax Credits, 10am-12pm

Please contact Anne Stevenson, HDC Assistant for more information:
hdcintern@cityofypsilanti.com
(734) 483-9646

The official press release can be found HERE.

EMU Neighborhood Survey Results
The EMU Social Work students presented Rachel with a CD containing a detailed report of the results of their survey completed earlier in the year. There were approximately 58 (?) respondents, who answered a variety of questions on issues pertaining to general quality of life and safety issues within the Historic Eastside neighborhood. Brian Robb will post the results on the HESNA website. [Brian later reported that there are some formatting issues that will have to be addressed before he can post the survey to the HESNA website.]

Second Annual Luna Lake Hoedown
Rachel provided an update on the planning for the upcoming Luna Lake Hoedown and asked whether the HESNA Board would be willing help distribute fliers to publicize the event. It was agreed that the Board would distribute the flier around the 4th of June using the usual method for distributing newsletters. Grace asked whether HESNA was listed on the flier as one of the co-sponsors of the event. Rachel responded that HESNA, along w/ EPNA and PPNA, are all credited on the flier. There was some discussion as to whether and how HESNA could be more prominently represented, so as to make it clear that the fliers were being distributed from our association. Brian offered to run a second batch of fliers with a HESNA logo on the reverse side.

Next General and Board Meetings
The Board discussed whether a General Meeting would be necessary, given that the Luna Lake Hoedown was a potluck, community-wide event. Grace was concerned that residents with specific concerns might not feel comfortable bringing them up to Board Members at the Hoedown, since it will be a primarily social event with no structured “meeting” time. The question was tabled for discussion at the next Board Meeting, scheduled for July 18th at 6PM at the Corner Brewery Beer Garden. Mary, Kristen and Rachel will all be unable to attend the next Board Meeting.

HESNA Bank Account
Because removing the former Treasurer as a co-signatory on the account has proven difficult, Jason will be closing the existing account and re-opening it with himself and another current Board Member as co-signers.

All city administrative offices will be closed on Friday, May 28, 2010 (Furlough Day) and Monday, May 31, 2010 (Memorial Day).

The Ypsilanti Recycling Drop-Off Site located at 651 Rice Street will be closed on Saturday, May 29, 2010.

SUNDAY MAY 16 – 8 A.M. TO 12 NOON

Michigan Firehouse Museum
110 W. Cross Street, Ypsilanti (Cross and Huron)

All proceeds benefit your local firefighters.

Adults $5
Children under 12 $4
Children under 3 free
Seniors $4

Weather permitting, we are planning on doing the following:

• Weeding and planting the beds at Prospect and Cross
  
• Weeding and planting the beds at Prospect and Oak
  
• Weeding and planting the beds at the cannon
  
• Adams Student Council planting at the school
  
• Painting the cannon
  
• Installing boards at the tennis court for deck hockey.
  
• Miscellaneous trash collection
  
• Miscellaneous tree limb collection
  
• Re-install sign at basketball courts
  
• Eding sidewalks

As always, we can use all the people we can get as well as all the tools available. This year, a gas-powered edger would especially helpful as we hope to edge the sidewalks from Oak to Prospect and from Cross to the eastern-most edge of the park. In addition, the Chamber of Commerce was able to raise extra money and we have a lot of perennials to get in the ground. That means expanding most of our flower beds.

Due to a car show in Riverside Park, the after-PRIDE Day celebration will be in Parkridge Park. Local restaurants have donated food for your enjoyment. The picnic is free and open to everyone. Parkridge Park is located at 591 Armstrong Court at the corner of Harriet Street and Armstrong Court next to the Perry Child Development Center.

We hope to see everyone there!

The City has received $1M in grants in the past year in the form of three $200K grants from the Environmental Protection Agency, $250K in Federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program grants, and a $150K grant from the Down River Brownfield Consortium. These grants will allow the City to demolish all of the remaining structures on the site, do targeted soil remediation, and remove the concrete slab from under one of the site’s largest buildings. This work is expected to be completed by the end of July.

There are two options for buying plants:

• Preorder your plants from this amazing assortment.
  
• Come by the Whittaker Road branch on Saturday May 15th from 11am to 3pm and pick from the plants that will be available that day. Preordered plants will need to be picked up Saturday May 15th from 11am to 3pm at the Whittaker Road branch (at 5577 Whittaker Road ).

The plants will be coming from two Michigan growers. The flats, hanging baskets and perennials will come from Sell Farms in Ypsilanti Township . The organic vegetable and herb seedlings will come from Cinzori Organic Farm outside Grand Rapids.

If you want to preorder, the form AND payment are due by Saturday May 1. Orders can be turned in at any branch of the library or at the Friends Shop at Whittaker Road.

The order form may be found HERE.

The discussion will focus on upcoming projects in the park including Ypsi PRIDE Day in May and the Luna Lake Hoe Down in June as well as list of projects the Friends of Prospect Park plan to tackle this year.

Everyone is invited.

The YMCA is excited to offer 10 weeks of summer camps in Ypsilanti beginning Monday, June 21st, 2010. As a participant in one of our camps, your child will be positively impacted by great programs and caring staff. Our counselors are dedicated to ensuring a safe atmosphere while instilling the character values of the YMCA.

YMCA Day Camp Pillars of Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, and Caring are found in each game, activity, and interaction. Whether it is the outdoor fun, physical activity, or personal growth our camps have something to offer everybody. A digital copy of our summer camp brochure is attached. Brochures are also available online HERE or from any of the following locations:

– Ypsilanti Public Library
– Chapelle Elementary School
– Adams Elementary School
– Ypsilanti Senior Center/Rutherford Pool

*General Information*
The first 5 weeks of camp will be held at Prospect Park and the last 5 weeks will be held at Recreation Park. Each week will have its own theme with correlating games, and arts and crafts activities. At least once a week the campers will get an opportunity to board the Ypsilanti Public Library Book Navigator and on Friday’s lunch will be supplied by Food Gatherers. Campers attending a session of camp at Recreation Park will have the opportunity to swim at least once a week.

*Financial Assistance*
The cost for camp is $55.00 per child per week. A $10 deposit for each session of camp requested is due at the time of registration. Through the generous contributions of our donors, we are able to provide financial assistance to all members of the community through our sliding fee scale. Participants wishing to take advantage of our scholarship program should check a box on the registration form indicating what they are able to pay towards the cost of camp.

*YMCA Day Camp Themes & Activities*
Each themed week of camp will offer campers the chance to participate in large and small group games, sports, and arts & crafts activities. See attached brochure for more details.

*Session 1 – Around the World*
YMCA campers grab your toothbrush and get ready for a trip across the globe as we explore various cultures, sports and games from all over the world.

Click HERE for registration.

*Session 2 – Wild, Wild West*
Grab your boots and spurs and mosey on down to the park. YMCA campers will discover what life was like in the Wild, Wild West. Saddle up, Yee-hah!

Click HERE for registration.

*Session 3 – Holi-daze*
Can’t wait for the holidays? Then get a jump on celebrating as we cram all the favorites into this mid-summer bash. Halloween, St. Paddy’s Day, Valentines, New Years, Mardi Gras, 4th of July, and more!

Click HERE for registration.

*Session 4 – Hollywood*
Places everyone, places, and ACTION! We’re bringing Hollywood to Ypsilanti for one week only! Sample some of your favorite TV shows as campers try to outwit, outlast, and outplay their fellow campers and counselors, featuring our very own Ypsilanti Camp Survivor and an Amazing Race.

Click HERE for registration.

*Session 5 – Superheroes*
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a YMCA camper! If your child dreams of being as strong as the Incredible Hulk or as fast as the Flash, this is the camp for them. By the end of the week we’ll each create our very own Superhero and start saving the world one day at a time!

Click HERE for registration.

*Session 6 – Pirates*
Arrr Matey! Campers, come join our voyage as we journey the seven seas and try to find lost treasure during this week of camp. During the week we will learn more about the plundering adventures of famous pirates and their ships. Gather up your crew and jump aboard!

Click HERE for registration.

*Session 7 – Splish, Splash*
Campers will have a wet and wild time as we ‘dive’ into a week of fun water based activities. Join us for extra swim time, play some wacky & watery games and learn more about one of the most essential elements on our planet.

Click HERE for registration.

For specific questions about this event please contact Congressman Dingell’s Dearborn office at (313) 278-2936.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2010

WHAT: Homeowner Counseling Forum

If your mortgage is “underwater” or you are considering walking away from your home, you are among thousands of other Michigan citizens facing the same painful and difficult decisions. A panel of experts will outline what options are available to you – including information on recent federal legislation – to help get your mortgage back on solid financial ground.

WHERE: Ypsilanti Public Library 5577 Whittaker Road Ypsilanti, MI 48197

WHEN: 6 – 7:30PM

Students will be canvassing the neighborhood in the coming weeks asking everyone to fill out a survery. In order to make this process as seamless as possible, you may take it on the web by clicking the following link:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/hena

The information you provide is CONFIDENTIAL, it will be reviewed only by key members of the Neighborhood Association. None of the information you provide will be shared with outside sources and it will not be used for any other purpose than what is listed above.

Yard Waste Is:
Grass clippings, leaves, weeds and brush less than 3 inches in diameter only.

Place in separate containers free of rubbish, dirt, sod or recyclables.

The following containers must be used for yard waste collection:

1. Use a 20 to 32-gallon hard plastic container with no plastic bag liner.

• Containers larger than 32 gallons will NOT be collected.
  
• Container must be marked “YARD WASTE.” Stickers may be picked up at City Hall, the Public Services office or at the City Recycling site.
  
• Container must not weigh more than 50 pounds.

2. Use 30-gallon paper compost bags available at local stores. No Plastic!

3. Branches and tree limbs smaller than 3 inches in diameter must be TIED in bundles not exceeding four (4) feet in length and 50 pounds in weight or may placed in paper compost bags or trash cans 32 gallons or smaller with a yard waste sticker.

Place all yard waste at the curb at least SIX feet from rubbish and the recycle bin.

Place yard waste at the curb no later than 6:00 AM on your regular trash day.

Call to Order
Approval of Agenda for 03/21/10 meeting
Approval of Minutes of 01/17/10 meeting

Treasurers Report
Jason reported the account balance is $637.47. Jason advised he is not receiving monthly statements from the bank, it is presumed these are still being sent to Jon Shuler. Jason will open a new account. The exact split of luna lake vs. HESNA funds is not known, although Rachel indicated she thought the Luna Lake balance was very low. Jason requested a volunteer for a second signer on the account, Kristen Pitzen volunteered for this task. Jason asked what information we would like to collect from members, agreed upon: name, dues paid, date, street address and email address.

Prospect Park Summit
Rachel and Brian will be attending a meeting 3/22/10 at Adams school to plan for prospect park projects this summer. Members of the other 3 adjoining neighborhood associations will also be attending. A list of projects was started last year. Brian reviewed the list and asked for additional items. The list of potential projects now includes:
Painting the pavilion
Painting playground equipment
Community Gardens
Fix up the baseball field
Planting fruit trees
Lowering the swings
Adding more garbage cans
There was also a reminder that Sunday litter patrols of the park will begin in April.

Neighborhood Survey
An EMU sociology class is working with Yspi neighborhood associations through YPSICan. Currently, students from this class have developed surveys based on input from the 3 participating neighborhood associations. Students have started to give the survey in Riverside and were able to complete 30-40 houses in the first weekend. Students will be surveying the residents face to face, or asking them to complete the survey online at Survey Monkey. The class is looking for volunteers to accompany the students. Pete and Brian volunteered to accompany the volunteers in the Historic East Side, no date has been set yet. Brian agreed to put an announcement of the survey on the HESNA website and include a link to the survey.

SeeClickFix
SeeClickFix is a website that allows users to download photos of any issues they see in their neighborhoods. Interested parties, such as city government, can then set up alerts so that they are notified when an issue is logged and can view the photo and any additional information on SeeClickFix. The map for the city of Ypsilanti has been separated by ward using Google maps. City staff are notified via email when an issue is logged and then forward it to the appropriate department to be addressed. If used properly this could be an effective tool for people to use to communicate issues around town.

School Closure Update
Rachel reported that Chappel and East Elementary Schools have been marked for closure as schools and the buildings will be repurposed, still under ownership of the school district. This was up for vote at the school board meeting on 3/22/10. A group called Save Ypsilanti Schools is trying to stop the planned closures. The plan is to make Adams school a K-6 school, which should increase the attendance at Adams.

Luna Lake Fundraiser
$238 was raised at the Luna Lake fundraiser at Frenchie’s and Sidetrack in February. The Hoedown is scheduled for 6/26/10, there will be several other events in the depot town area that weekend as well. Rachel is planning a native plant sale, activities for children, entertainment by Black Jake and the Carnies and Hullabaloo, and maybe others. Pete will work with the city to obtain mulch for this project.

Membership
Grace has forms and has been recruiting new members.

Welcome Wagon
Kristen advised that rather that soliciting businesses for donations to a welcome wagon, she would rather deliver homemade cookies. Grace suggested including maps of downtown and depot town and perhaps information from the chamber of commerce, Ypsilanti schools and neighborhood churches. Rachel advised she had packets from the visitor’s bureau and she would give to Kristen.

CoPAC
Grace reported that she attended the last meeting as an alternate member and that she and Mary would both be attending the meeting this week. Rachel asked in Grace would notify CoPAC of the neighborhood survey.

Garage Sale
Miles neighborhood association is also interested in having a garage sale, perhaps the first week of June.

April Meeting
The next meeting will be an open meeting on 4/18/10 at Prospect Park at 6:00, it will be a potluck. Rachel will bring plasticware and Kristen will bring plates. Brian or Pete will reserve the pavilion. Agenda will include:
Park improvements
Community garden
Hoe down
Pride day
Sunday litter patrols

Christine will create a flyer and have it to Brian for printing by 4/8/10. There was much discussion about flyering, whether it was appropriate to recruit nonboard members, whether we should mail instead of hand delivering, etc.

May Meeting
May board meeting will be at Café Luwak on Sunday, May 16th.

Registration will be at 12:30 PM. Parade will start at Sidetrack, in Depot Town and end at Riverside Park Parade starts @ 1 PM.

Pets Supplies Plus is providing Doggie Treat Bags for participants:

Special Grand Prizes for the:
Cutest dog
Best costume
Ugliest dog
Best behaved dog
Most Irish dog
Dog that looks most like their owner

Suggested entry fee for the contest is $5/dog, with all proceeds benefiting the HURON VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY. Registration Parking will be at the parking lot on Rice Street, South of E Forest. Local merchants will be offering special sales and treats for dogs and their owners, so come on down with the family on March 20th and celebrate the first day of Spring!

For more information go to: depottownpromotions@gmail.com

If you can’t make it to the fundraiser this evening, you can drop by The Sidetrack anytime today, and present a coupon to donate 20% of your purchase to Luna Lake. Feel free to print or copy as many coupons as you like, pass them around to friends and spread the word.

Please see the flier for more details. Thank you for your continued support of the Luna Lake Native Plants Garden! We look forward to seeing you tonight!

Download the poster HERE
Download the coupon HERE

The City is beginning work on the resurfacing of East Cross from River to Prospect. The actual project is not scheduled yet, but it is necessary to provide engineering design services to meet MDOT permitting requirements to have the project “shovel ready” when funds can be secured in TIP (Transportation Improvement Plan).

There are several issues on which the City would like neighborhood input. Possible design scenarios include widening the street, adding bike paths, removing some on-street parking, and the introducing traffic calming measures.

Emma L. Jackson, Public Relations Director
Ypsilanti Public Schools
“Strong From Start to Finish”
(734) 714-1202
ejackson@ypsd.org
Follow ypsischools on Twitter