Our First Holiday Party!

We had a wonderful time at our block's first holiday party. We had close to 50 members join us at Grace and St. Paul Church.  We are grateful to Pastor Martin for donating the space to us!

We would like to thank Tasty Cafe for donating delicious pastries.

We would like to thank Mike Lubin, Associate Broker from Brown Harris Stevens, LLC, for generously sponsoring our live music played by two very talented Broadway musicians Bill Ellison, bass and Jim Hershman, guitar.

Thank you to our sponsor!

We are grateful for the support of Mike Lubin, Real Estate Broker with Brown Harris Stevens.

Mike Lubin

Vice President, Director

mlubin@bhsusa.com

212-317-3672

PROUD WEST 71ST STREET RESIDENT FOR OVER 11 YEARS.

Your Local Broker for All of Your Real Estate Needs.

West 71st St Holiday Party Dec. 15th 5-7pm

Join us to celebrate the holiday season at Grace and St. Paul's Church on Sat., Dec. 15th from 5-7pm.   Please bring something tasty to share. Everyone welcome!

Tree pit planting Sun, Nov. 18 at 2 pm

Come join us spruce up the block's tree pits with bulbs and autumn plants on Nov. 18.  We will meet at 2 pm in front of Grace and St. Paul Church. We will have bulbs for everyone.  Please bring trowels or soil if you can. 

Donate to Hurricane Sandy victims

Our block fared pretty well during Hurricane Sandy, but many of our fellow New Yorkers were not as fortunate.  On Tuesday, November 6th, St. Paul and Grace Church will be collecting supplies for those in need. You may bring your items to church between Noon and 8:00 PM. Ring the bell on the office door. Here are two helpful links to guide us in what to donate:

http://myupperwest.com/upper-west-side/uws-photo-lots-of-upper-west-siders-donating-to-sandy-relief-at-firehouse-tavern-other-sandy-relief-notes/#more-48393

http://www.westsiderag.com/2012/11/03/a-running-list-of-volunteer-and-aid-needs

Please don't use your imagination when deciding what to bring.  Bring items that are on the lists provided. 

You may also bring a check made payable to Grace & St. Paul's Church and marked in the corner "Synod." The church will send the money on to the Bishop, who will distribute the funds where needed.

Benefit Concert Monday 10/22 at Grace and St. Paul Church

Please come and support our neighbor, Pastor Martin and Grace and St. Paul's Church, our regular block association meeting place, at a benefit concert next Monday, October 22nd at 8 pm:

For more details, click here: http://www.facebook.com/events/202184893247068/

The event is free, but donations are encouraged.

Minutes from our last meeting

We had another good meeting of the 71st Street Block Association on September 23rd.  Welcome new members and thank you to all who joined us!  

Here are some notes from that meeting: 

1.  A group of us  met with Assemblywoman Rosenthal's office recently on Wed. Sept. 19th to strategize about making the block safer. (Homeless people breaking the law, drug use, noise from drunk patrons of Club 72, traffic, etc.)  In order to address these issues, Rosenthal's office  will be organizing a meeting with reps from our group, Project Reachout,  the police, Pastor Martin, and the Father from Blessed Sacrament Church.   Stringer's office will also be brought in to strategize. Rosenthal's office is also contacting other city groups (such as The Community Assistance Unit) which may provide support and solutions, such as how to successfully provide housing to homeless people.  In addition, we intend to ask the police to increase police presence on the block.  We also  discussed obtaining more security cameras for certain locations on the block.  

2.  Rat situation is getting better, but supers need to continue cleaning up and plugging up holes.  We will monitor and get the health department to come back out to inspect.  Please continue top call 311,  document what you see, and send us the info. We will share it with the health department.  Brewer's office has followed up with us to monitor the rat problem.  We value your input on whether you think the problem is improving;  residents have reported seeing fewer rats. 

3.  A new member is volunteering to organize a bulb planting in the tree wells before the first frost.  (He also offered to order free Curb-Your-Dog signs.) And we hope to  plant flowers or plants at the same time.   In particular we will target neglected tree wells which are not planted.  Let us know if you want to join us when we choose the date for planting!   

4.  Two new members came with major concerns about the dangerous situation outside McDonalds after school when teens gather.  There have been a shooting and stabbing there in the last few months.   We called Community Board 7 and Rosenthal's office and learned that people have been working on this issue and the police have begun walking by there during 3-5PM when the problems arise.   Please help us monitor if you see problems there, especially after school, between 3-5.  Let us or CB7 know when you see chaotic crowds there. 

5.  We are urging people to call 311 when they see problems on the block or lodge a complaint online:  http://www.nyc.gov/apps/311/about.htm

6.  Remember:  You can donate to the Block Association by writing a check to "Grace &St. Paul's Church".  Please write "71st Street Block Association" in the memo line. We also have a basket to accept cash donations and checks at each meeting.  We can use  funds for our upcoming tree well plantings. and other projects and expenses. 

NEXT MEETING:  Sunday October 28th at 4PM

Next Police Community Council meeting:  Monday October 22 at 7pm at the 20th percent at 120 West 82nd between Columbus and Amsterdam.  Please attend to learn about our community and to voice your concerns during the public comment part of the meeting.  Meetings are the 4th Monday  of every month at 7pm- check our blog for details.

Next Meeting: Sunday, Sept. 23 at 4 pm!

Please join us for our next West 71st Street Block Association meeting at 4 pm on Sunday, Sept. 23rd at Grace and St. Paul's Church.  We will give an update on the rat issue on our block, which has been improving, thanks to the efforts of neighbors, building owners and building supers!  We will also discuss a plan to combat nighttime noise and develop a schedule to make over the tree pits on our block.

And then, join us at the NYPD Precinct Community Meeting at the 20th Precinct on Monday, Sept. 24th at 7pm.

Upcoming Police Precinct Meetings

Join us at the monthly 20th Police Precinct Community Meetings.  Its a great way to let the police know about our block concerns (like nighttime noise!) and to meet other neighbors.  The meetings take place at 120 West 82nd St (Columbus and Amsterdam) at 7pm. They are as follows:

2012:
September 24
October 22
November 26
December - no meeting
2013:
January 28
February 25
March 25
April 22
May 20
June 24

Description of meeting from the NYPD:
The 20th Precinct Community Council is the New York Police Department’s community affairs forum for residents and businesses in the 20th Precinct.  The Precinct runs from West 59th to West 86th Streets, from Central Park West to the Hudson River.  The Council regularly meets at 7:00 PM on the fourth Monday of each month, except July, August and December.  At the Council’s monthly meetings, area residents and business owners can bring their questions and concerns to the Precinct’s Commanding Officer.  Everyone who lives and/or works in this neighborhood is welcome.  Please join us!

Rodent Academy on August 15th

Learn to safely and effectively manage rats and mice around your property.  Everyone is welcome to attend a FREE Rodent Academy on Wed, August 15 from 2-4 pm at 250 West 87th St, 2nd Floor.  In English and Spanish.

Contact Community Board 7 to register at office@cb7.org or call (212) 362-4008.

Rat Control

As a result of our block walthrough with the Department of Health on July 12, 2012, letters signed by Council Member Gale Brewer and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer were mailed to property owners last week, advising them of potential violations.  The owners were advised to make repairs to their property.  In the early fall, the Department of Health will schedule another walkthrough to examine the repairs.  If the issue has not been corrected, the property owner wil be issued a violation and be ordered to pay a fine.  Fines can be up to $2,000 for repeat offenders.

Block Association Outreach Day

The above are photographs from our very successful Block Association Outreach Day on August 1, 2012.  We enjoyed being able to meet so many of our neighbors.  We now have over 150 members!  We also appreciated NYC Council Member Gale Brewer, NYS Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal and representatives from the office of Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer joining us.
Thank you also to Tasty Cafe and Magnolia Bakery for providing treats and to Pastor Martin from Grace and St. Paul's Church for providing us with tables.

Block Association Meeting Minutes

We once again had a great turn-out for our Block Association meeting this past Sunday (especially for the summer)!   Each time we meet we get several new members to sign-up and contribute their ideas and enthusiasm!

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES:  

W. 71ST ST. BLOCK ASSOCIATION CELEBRATION DAY!   Wednesday August 1st 5-8PM.

Our goal is to publicize our group, attract new members, and learn of their concerns and ideas.  We will meet in front of the church at 123 W. 71st where we will have tables set up with literature and sign-up sheets.  We will also have info on sanitation, rat control, tree well beautification, etc. There also will be baked goods, balloons, a kids' table and doggy treats and water.  We will all wear white shirts with name tags (to be provided) and some of us will walk the block with clipboards and info to greet people and sign them up.  

More details to follow!

Next general meeting:  Sunday August 26th at 4PM at church (always 4th Sunday of the month at 4PM)

Issues discussed at July 22nd meeting: 

1.  Rat update - Brewer's office is preparing letters to go out to owners of various problem buildings on block (input from Stringer and CB7 as well.)

2.  Homeless people - Residents continue to have great concern over the number of homeless people on our block.  It is our hope that homeless people will be offered and accept housing and treatment, but that is often difficult.   We have a good relationship with Goddard Riverside (a non-profit) who regularly reach out to the homeless (you can reach them by calling 311).  However the growing number of homeless people is causing concerns about health and safety.  The group agreed that we will draft a letter and visit our local police precinct to ask for increased police presence to deal with unlawful or dangerous behavior.   

*Some good news:  The young couple with the dog who were homeless outside Grace & St. Paul's church have a new home!  We wish them well.

3. Trash - We are all concerned about trash cans which overflow at both Columbus and Broadway.  We have already requested new and bigger trash cans from Stringer's office and we will follow up to see if we can arrange more frequent emptying of trash cans. 

4.  Various members volunteered to help with our Celebration Day!  Details in the next email.

5.  An effort will be made to reach out to the management and/or boards of larger buildings to help spread the word about our block association.

6. Call or email 311 - http://www.nyc.gov/apps/311/about.htm - to report problems on our block.  You will receive a reference number to track the progress of your complaint. 

Thank you to all of you and welcome to our new members!

Rat Walkthrough with the Dept. of Health

Thank you to everyone who attended the Rat Walk last week on our block, West 71st Street. Through the efforts of several offices, including Gale Brewer and Scott Stringer, we were joined by representatives of the Department of Health and the Department of Sanitation. Thanks also to Penny Ryan of CB 7, who has been providing much support and information!

We found many issues that are contributing to our rat problem.  We found a lot of holes (violations) which need to be plugged up and trash cans with loose lids, and areas where loose trash was found.

The first step is cleaning up and sealing up. Some areas were much worse than others, with several buildings where we found rat feces, holes, and other evidence of rats. We also observed scurrying rats and one dead rat.

The info we compiled will be reviewed for accuracy by the rep from Dept. of Health, and then be used in a a letter to be drafted and mailed to property owners who are in violation or who could help by taking certain steps. This will probably be a joint letter sent by Council Member Brewer and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. These owners will be asked to take certain actions and then the Dept. of Health will check within a week or two to see if they have complied.

We have been advised by DOH to call 311 whenever we see a violation or sign of rats.

Please let us know if any rat problem areas your want us to be aware of. We will keep you posted as to our progress.

Next meeting Sun, July 22 at 4 pm

Please join us at Grace and St. Paul Church at 4 pm Sunday, July 22 for our next meeting!

Recent Block Association Meeting Minutes

We had a wonderful turnout for our second block association meeting at Grace and St. Paul’s Church. Thank you to Pastor Martin for hosting us and to everyone who came to share their concerns and ideas. We are grateful to Council Member Gale Brewer and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, who lives on our block, and is a member of our group, for sharing their ideas and offering support on the Rat Problem.  Thank you, too, to Rebecca Godlewicz, Scott Stringer’s Community Liaison for CB7, who joined us, and to Jesse Bodine of Gale Brewer's office.   Penny Ryan of Community Board 7 is also providing support on the Rat Problem and other issues. 

 Next meeting:  Sunday, July 22nd at 4PM at Grace & St. Paul’s Church.  (We always meet on the 4th Sunday of the month at 4PM.)   Block Association Celebration!:  Wednesday August 1, 5-8pm (details below) 

 Summary of June Meeting:  

 1. Rats: The Block Association will work with Brewer, Stringer, and CB7 to walk the block with a representative from the Depts. of Health and Sanitation to identify problems and solutions.  Brewer has formally requested a walk through and efforts will be coordinated with each of the above-mentioned offices.  We will post on our blog and through email when this walk through will occur so that you can join us.   Brewer's office sent us a link where we can review the rat inspections on our block:  http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/rats/home.shtml 

Attached please see a summary of the rat problem with photos which we put together and shared with all offices. (Don’t hesitate to send us more info to add.) We thank Penny Ryan of CB 7 who is discussing our rat situation with Dept. of Health, as they (CB 7) are addressing this problem all over the Upper Westside.

 PJ Sarraf  (member of our group) has offered to look into the cost of rat bait boxes.  Initial cost may be high, but maintenance is affordable.  We can apply for a grant for Rat Abatement by contacting Dee Rieber of West 75 Street DRieber@Halstead.com  

The key will be to do something about the trash problem which provides food for the rats.  DOS can provide some free trashcans, which some buildings clearly need  – we will look into that.  Brewer’s office can help us by sending letters to buildings who routinely fail to clean up and dispose of trash properly.  

 2. Treepits/Trash/ Beautification:  We may want to take care of the rat problem before doing much work on beautification, though one can still order trees (call 311), and clean up.  Stringer’s office will help us obtain new bigger and nicer trashcans for the corners of our block.   Please see directly below great info from Brewer’s office on free resources to help beautify our block:

 "The West Side Federation of Neighborhood & Block Associations launched its street beautification project Adopt A Tree Pit, featuring kits for protecting, maintaining and nurturing street trees.  Each kit contains metal tree guards, gardening tools, "curb your dog" signs, tree care instructions, and more.  Federation is giving out kits FOR FREE!  Info: 212-969-8047, westsidefed@aol.com and http://www.wsfed.org/ -West Side block associations that want to paint over graffiti should contact Beacon Paint and Hardware. This wonderful business is very supportive of community projects - Block associations on the West Side are meeting regularly. Contact: Dee Rieber of West 75 Street DRieber@Halstead.com   -Did you know the Department of Sanitation will lend tools for your neighborhood cleanup project?  To reserve brooms, shovels, rakes, work gloves and trash bags, contact (646) 885-DSNY at least four weeks in advance. Info:http://www.nyc.gov/html/dsny/downloads/pdf/contact/requests/misc_request/vol%0Acleanup.pdf  -Several block associations recommend Curb Allure Modular Tree Guards. This is a West Side company. Info: Kim Johnson athttp://www.curballure.com/ or 212-769-CURB (2872). "

3.  Publicizing our Group:  We are planning a Block Association Celebration  to publicize our group and attract new members.  It will be on a Wednesday August 1st between 5-8pm.   The church will provide two long tables (one for each end of the block) and we will have plenty of flyers and other info along with sign-up sheets and Block T-shirts or we can all just wear white and have badges or sashes.   We can provide baked goods for free (or for sale) and free doggie treats!  We welcome other ideas for making this festive!  Please also see attached document with our info;  there are two flyers per page, so you can cut them in half and carry with you to share with others. 

** Please let us know of your thoughts for T-shirt design and other ideas.  We will have a volunteer prep session to plan.  

4.  Committees and Liaisons:  Please see attached document with Committee Lists and think of which group you might want to volunteer for.  You will also see names of people who are on committees and who have offered to be liaisons to different offices; that is still developing.

5.  Fiscal Agent/Fundraising & Donations:  Pastor Martin said the church can act as a fiscal agent so that we can accept donations, which we need for xeroxing, stationary supplies, etc. refreshments, T-shirts, etc.  People can make out their checks to Grace & St. Paul's Church and write FOR BLOCK ASSOCIATION in memo line.  They keep a careful accounting on the computer of contributors and amounts, so the money is always available and accounted for. Whenever there is an expense, they will write a check and debit the Block Association account.  The church has been donating Xeroxing for us!

6.  Other issues raised included:

a.  Con-Ed work – what is being done and how long will it last?

b.  Bicycles on streets (going the wrong way) and on sidewalks

c.  Continue to call 311 with complaints on trash, noise, rats, and illegal behavior(create a record).  Brewer and Stringer offices can follow-up if no results.

d.  Cleaning of curb and sewer area on SE corner of 71st and Broadway where water collects (check with CB7)

We have some terrific momentum going and great support!  We look forward to seeing you on Sunday July 22nd at 4PM!  Thank you to everyone for all your efforts and interest.  Remember to check the attachments below for more info. Please help spread the word and check our blog regularly for updates and other info:  http://w71stba.blogspot.com/  

Some information shared by Council Member Gale Brewer

Several block associations recommend Curb Allure Modular Tree Guards. This is a West Side company. Info: Kim Johnson at http://www.curballure.com/ or 212-769-CURB (2872).

-The West Side Federation of Neighborhood & Block Associations launched its street beautification project Adopt A Tree Pit, featuring kits for protecting, maintaining and nurturing street trees.  Each kit contains metal tree guards, gardening tools, "curb your dog" signs, tree care instructions, and more.  Federation is giving out kits FOR FREE!  Info: 212-969-8047, westsidefed@aol.com and http://www.wsfed.org/ 

-West Side block associations that want to paint over graffiti should contact Beacon Paint and Hardware. This wonderful business is very supportive of community projects

- Block associations on the West Side are meeting regularly. Contact: Dee Rieber of West 75 Street DRieber@Halstead.com  

-Did you know the Department of Sanitation will lend tools for your neighborhood cleanup project?  To reserve brooms, shovels, rakes, work gloves and trash bags, contact (646) 885-DSNY at least four weeks in advance. Info:http://www.nyc.gov/html/dsny/downloads/pdf/contact/requests/misc_request/vol%0Acleanup.pdf 

Next meeting: Sun, June 24th at 4pm

Join us for our next block association meeting at 4 pm on Sunday, June 24th at Grace and St. Paul's Church at 123 West 71st St.

We will give you an update on working with CM Brewer and the Community Board on our block's rat issues, as well as discuss ways to curb dog waste and beautify the block.

Remember to e-mail 311

Please file a complaint with 311 when you want to report any problem on our street  (noise, rats, trash, other violations).

Note that you can now lodge complaints to 311 online at:    http://www.nyc.gov/apps/311/about.htm      Click on the left side of the page under "I want to: make a complaint"

It is very quick and easy (no long wait on the phone) and you can include photos, video or audio. You will receive a complaint number and email confirmation.  You can then track your complaint online."

For information about Community Board 7, please visit:   www.nyc.gov/mcb7

Next steps for our block

We had a wonderful turnout for our first block association meeting at Grace and Lutheran Church.  Thank you to Pastor Martin for hosting us and to everyone who came to share their concerns and ideas.  We particularly appreciate Council Member Gale Brewer joining us and giving us some great guidance.

Main issues:
1. Rats:  The rat issue has worsened over the past year as a result of construction.  The Block Association will work with CM Gale Brewer's office to walk the block with a representative from the Dept. of Health to identify problems and solutions.  (We will also ask about pigeons).  We will post on this blog (and email you if you are on our list) when this walk through will occur so that you can join us. 

2.  Dog waste: Although most dog owners are considerate, we find a lot of dog waste on the street.  Please encourage your neighbors to curb their dogs.  Also, remember that dog urine can kill trees and plants, so please keep dogs out of the tree pits.  The Block Association will see if there is away to post additional "Curb Your Dog" signs where necessary.

3.  Noise:  Complaints were raised about nighttime noise from adjacent bars and cafes on Columbus Avenue and Con Edison infrastructure improvements.  Please call 311 or the 20th precinct at 212.580.6411 to report problems.  Also consider attending a police community council meeting to discuss the topic.  The next meeting is Wed, May 23 at 7 pm on 120 W82 St (Columbus and Amsterdam). 

There were also concerns aboutnoise from commercial air units.  Perhaps Community Board 7 can help.  You can reach out to them at 212.362.4008 or mail@cb7.org

4.  Homelessness:  Please call 311 or Goddard Riverside if you feel a homeless person on our block needs help.  Call 911 in an emergency.

5.  Tree pit beautification:  We will plan a tree beautification on an upcoming Sunday afternoon.  As a reminder, although flowers and mulch can look great around a tree, be sure to leave the lip of the tree (the area where the tree trunk meets the soil), free of mulch for the tree's health.  The Block Association will request a new tree for the empty tree pit on our block.

6.  Scaffolding: The Block Association will follow up with CM Brewer's office to determine if the scaffolding at 133-145 W71 St has a permit.

7.  The Block Association will reach out to CB 7 to investigate the possibility of cleaning the SE corner of 71 St and Broadway, particularly the sewer.

8.  The Block Association will follow up with CM Brewer to see if there is away to clean up the newspaper boxes on the SE corner of W 71st and Columbus, as they have become filled with trash and are an eyesore.

We are off to a great start, and plan to have another meeting this summer to continue our progress.

Police Precinct meetings

All are welcome to join the Police Precinct Community meetings on the 4th Monday of each month at 7 pm.  The 20th Police precinct is located at 120 West 82nd St, bet. Amsterdam and Columbus.

Upcoming Event

On Monday, May 7, 2012 from 3-5pm, Council Member Brewer will be hosting a FREE Forum at Project FIND’s Hamilton Senior Center, 141 West 73 Street (between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues), New York, NY 10023.

 

Updates will include:

Medicare 2012 by Medicare Rights Center

SCRIE, DRIE and SCHE by the NYC Department of Finance

West Side Age-Friendly District by The New York Academy of Medicine

 

All are welcome! Refreshments will be provided.

Photos of our block

Photos from our recent Spring Spruce Up Day: our new meeting place, Grace and St. Paul's Church, Ursula tends to the tree pit with BQ, and Theo, the "honorary mayor" of our block!

April News

On April 21st, the West 71st Block Association joined neighbors from across Manhattan at the Coalition of Block and Community Leaders. We are excited to be part of this group.

Please remember to join us on Sunday, May 20th at 4PM at Grace & St. Paul's Church (123 West 71st) for our first block association meeting.

Here is a photo of one of our block volunteers, Carol, from our Spring Spruce Up day.

Upcoming events in our neighborhood

Fridays April 20, April 27, May 4, May 11, May 18, May 25 and June 1, 2012 at 6:30pm: FREE FRIDAY NIGHT MUSIC/NEW YORK COOL at New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West at 77 St., NY NY. http://www.nyhistory.org/ or 212-873-3400

-Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 12 noon to 5pm at PS 87 Tecumseh Playgrounds at West 77 Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues, Manhattan Celebrate Earth Month with Council Member Gale A. Brewer, Upper West Side Recycling Center & SIMS Recycling Solutions at a FREE E-RECYCLING EVENT! The following items will be accepted: Working and non-working computers (laptops, desktops, servers); Peripherals: monitors, printers, keyboards, mice, cables, etc. TVs, stereo equipment, VCRs, DVD players, cable receivers, faxes, scanners, video games, Cell phones, Flashlight-type batteries (AA, C, D, etc) – please tape the ends, Textiles (clothing, shoes, blankets, sheets, towels etc) wearable or unwearable. Items not accepted: Other electronic items including appliances (microwave ovens, toasters etc.), air conditioners, white goods, wall phones, carpeting. While electronic devices are safe to use in the home or office, they do pose an environmental risk when improperly discarded. Computers, monitors, and printers have cathode ray tubes, circuit boards, and other electronic components that contain toxic pollutants such as lead, mercury, and cadmium. These electronic items are the fastest growing portion of our waste stream. Although e-waste currently makes up a small percentage of our household garbage, it accounts for about 40% of the toxins in that waste. Recycling helps keep it out of landfills, incinerators and the environment. All collected computers and electronics will go to an EPA-licensed recycler. Made possible by Sims Recycling Solutions.

Thursday, July 12, 2012 at 8pm and Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at 8pm - Philharmonic Brings Back Free Central Park Concerts Music Director Alan Gilbert will kick off the series with performances of Respighi’s "Fountains of Rome and Pines of Rome" with Tchaikovsky’s "Symphony No. 4" in Central Park's Great Lawn on July 12, 2012. Info: http://www.nyphil.org/

Successful Spruce Up Day

We had a wonderful spruce up day and had the chance to meet a lot of neighbors who shared their concerns about the block. 

During the event, we met Pastor Martin Hauser, who has graciously offered us Grace & St. Paul's Church as a meeting place! (123 West 71st).  We are thinking of having a meeting on Sunday, May 20th at 4PM.  We are so grateful to now have a place to meet and to have the support of the Pastor and his church.  Please let us know if this meeting time works for you!

Spring Spruce Up

On Sunday, April 1st, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm, please join us as we spruce up tree pits on both sides of the block from Broadway to Columbus. 

Come by to help or just to say hello.

Trees

Bartlett Tree Experts pruned street trees on our block in March 2012, as part of the city's street tree maintenance program.  They cut branches that were too far out onto the street or too close to buildings. 

Tree tips:
Its so great to see the daffodils and tulips popping up in the tree pits along our block.  Now is a great time to start thinking about planting spring flowers like violas or pansies in your tree pits!  If you do so, remember to remove the tree branches and old leaves and add some new soil and compost beforehand. 

As we are getting into the warmer weather, be sure to water your trees once a week if there is no rain that week.