December 28, 2009

SAVE THE DATE:
POST HOLIDAY RECYCLING EVENT GIVES RESIDENTS OPPORTUNITY TO RECYCLE
HOLIDAY MATERIALS

INDIANAPOLIS - The Office of Sustainability, in conjunction with Indy
Parks, the Department of Public Works and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful,
will host the fourth annual Post-Holiday Recycling Event on Saturday,
January 9, 2010

WHAT: This one-day event is designed to offer residents an
environmentally safe way to dispose of unwanted electronics and to
provide a reuse and recycling option for Christmas trees. Through this
event, residents are able to do their part as we make Indianapolis a
cleaner, more sustainable city.

Accepted items include:
* Christmas trees (remove all ornaments, lights, tree stands, plastic
bags, and other decorations)
* Cardboard boxes
* Gift boxes (no wrapping paper)
* Styrofoam (white foam, clean with no glue)
* Electronics (examples include: computer equipment, cell phones, TV's
no larger than 27 inches, VCRs, DVD players and stereos)
Volunteers will be on hand to help unload recyclables.

WHERE: Broad Ripple Park - 1550 Broad Ripple Avenue
Ellenberger Park - 5301 E. St. Clair Street
Garfield Park - 2354 Pagoda Drive
Krannert Park - 605 S. High School Road

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, January 9, 2010

December 16, 2009

Good morning everyone, this is your friendly reminder that there will be NO Residential or Heavy Trash collection or Curbside Recycling collection next Friday, December 25th, in observance of the Christmas holiday. There will also be NO Residential or Heavy Trash collection or Curbside Recycling collection on Friday, January 1st in observance of New Year’s Day. All Friday routes for both weeks will be picked up on Saturday (12/26 and 01/02) for the next two weeks. Trash schedules will return to normal on Monday, January 4. Any assistance you can offer in getting this word out to the public is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help!



Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!



Shawn

November 19, 2009

Good morning everyone,



As you all know, Thanksgiving Day is next Thursday, November 26. There will be NO Residential Solid Waste, Leaf, Heavy Trash, or Curbside Recycling service on that day in honor of the holiday. All services will run one day behind for the remainder of the week. Thursday routes will be picked up on Friday, 11/27, and Friday routes will be serviced on Saturday, 11/28. All schedules will return to normal on Monday, November 30.



Any assistance you can offer in getting the word out to our residents is greatly appreciated. As always, thanks in advance for your help with this!



Shawn


AND HERE IS SOME INFO ON LEAF DISPOSAL>

NO BURNING OF LEAVES

LEAVES MUST BE BAGGED FOR PICKUP!

November 11, 2009

Hello, neighbors!
Here is the itinerary for the UHNA meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. in the UIndy Stierwalt Alumni House. Please share it with neighbors who do not have email access or have not contacted me to get added to the list.
Have a great week!
Nancy

University Heights Neigborhood Monthly Meeting

11/17/2009

7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Stierwalt Alumni House, Multipurpose Room

Leader: Ruth Soper

Recorder: Jim Pennell

Allotted Time Agenda Topics Expected Result

5 City of Indianapolis Leaf Collection Share info

10 UIndy Student Certified Housing Update

10 Neighborhood Park / Maintenance Sub Group Report out

October 30, 2009

University Heights Neighborhood Association Meeting Minutes

October 20, 2009, 7:00PM

28 people in attendance.

Spring Tree Planting Project:

Nov 1st is deadline on tree planting. We need 20 people to sign up. If we don’t get them, we’ll try for next fall. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB) provides the trees. The neighborhood supplies the labor for planting, refreshments. People have to agree to water trees—15 gallons, 3 times a week for 3 years. A person who signs up can have more than one tree. To sign up, contact David Wiese at david_wiese@yahoo.com.

Recycling Information:

Rudy is on the Indiana Recycling Coalition board. Information is available on the table in the back on tox drop (closest tox drop located on Shelby St. behind Flapjacks), phone book recycling. Ruth Soper half sheet on curb recycling. Jim Sachs, Republic Services, proposed a deal—intro offer 3 months free, and $36 for next year. Interested neighbors need to refer to Indiana Recycling Coalition Curbside. The recycling truck picks up every other week—same day as trash pick up. Ruth shares a bin with her neighbors since they are so big.

Halloweeny Roast hotdog pitch-in is from 1-3PM Sat Oct. 31 at the corner of Otterbein and Edwards Ave.

Trix and treats is 6PM to 8PM later in the day.

U of I nursing students will be collecting canned goods for charity during trick or treat. Please be generous.

October 19, 2009

If you know of neighbors who do not have email access, please make sure they get a copy!

University Heights Neighborhood Monthly Meeting

Tuesday, 10/20/2009
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
UIndy Stierwalt Alumni House, Multipurpose Room
Co-Leaders: David Wiese and Ruth Soper
Recorder: Jim Pennell


Agenda Topics Expected Result
Spring Tree Planting Project Circulate Sign-up sheet
Recycle Information
UIndy Student Certified Housing Brainstorm General idea document
Neighborhood Park / Maintenance Design & Maint Plan
2010 Projects / Events / Ideas

Notes: Come early at 6:30 PM and create a card to send to an American Veteran (supplies will be furnished).

October 5, 2009

Mark it on your Calendar: The next University Heights Neighborhood Meeting will take place Tuesday, October 20th, 7 p.m. in UIndy’s Stierwalt Alumni House (on the SE corner of Otterbein and Windermire).




UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING MINUTES

From September 15, 2009

* There were 26 people present at the September meeting of the University Heights Neighborhood Association.



* Denny Rusher, the current UHNA president, explained the role of the association in the past, why it was formed, and his work as President over the years. He is ready to step down and serve the neighborhood on an as-needed basis.



* David Wantz thanked Denny Rusher for his many years of service and spoke of how Denny always had the neighborhood’s best interests in mind when representing it.



* Jim Pennell presented his ideas on creating a small University Heights Neighborhood Association governance structure with two coordinators and a secretary to keep minutes and suggested some terms of service and limits (see page 2). The primary rationale was to keep the structure simple, but provide some leadership for helping neighborhood residents identify needs and organize for action. There was some discussion, but no decision. David Wiese suggested the proposal be given some time for consideration, and volunteered to serve as acting coordinator. This suggestion was affirmed by those attending. Ruth Soper volunteered to serve as co-coordinator with David for the six-month period. Jim Pennell volunteered to serve as secretary for that period. During this time period, it will be decided how the co-coordinators will be chosen in the future.



* UIndy students Emily Frey and Morgan Huser, who live in the neighborhood, wanted to know what they might do as part of a class service project. They were considering doing a trick-or-treat canned good drive for a local food pantry. A number of other ideas were suggested. Angela Lord suggested neighbors be more active on Halloween: leaving porch lights on and visiting with each other. Other suggestions included making cards for veterans and reverse trick or treating where Global Exchange provides fair traded chocolate to give out. Emily and Morgan will present ideas to their fellow classmates and will discuss their decision at the next meeting.



* David Wiese suggested doing a neighborhood cookout in his yard at the corner of Edwards and Otterbein on Saturday, October 31 (Halloween). Jim Pennell volunteered to buy hotdogs. Denny Rusher said he has a pop up tent, if needed, and the Pennells have a tent. Jim and Angela Lord volunteered to coordinate the event. Activities for children such as corn hole were suggested. The event will be scheduled in the afternoon so as not to interfere with trick or treating. Emily and Morgan agreed to do flyers.



* The group brainstormed ideas for what might be done with the lot of the former Cummins Apts. Suggestions included sculpture, a community garden or flower garden, a kid’s community garden, tennis courts, a playground for small children, a picnic area, and a labyrinth. There was some discussion about who would maintain whatever was developed, the university? The neighborhood?



* The next meeting is Tuesday, October 20, at 7 p.m. in UIndy’s Stierwalt Alumni House (on the SE corner of Otterbein and Windermire). A program called “Stamp for a Cause” will begin at 6:30 p.m. Neighbors will be able to decorate and sign cards to be sent to military personnel who are stationed overseas.



* MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Meeting dates for the remainder of 2009:



October 20 November 17 December 15

Minutes were compiled and submitted by Jim Pennell from his and Nancy Collins’ notes.

Organizing the Neighborhood Association

Jim Pennell

September 15, 2009

1. I propose that we have a simple and flat governance structure. Instead of having a board or a council, we elect two co-coordinators and a secretary who keeps minutes.

Rationale: There is no reason to have a board of directors or a council at this point. We should meet together and make decisions as a body of the whole. Having co-coordinators will help address the problem of one of them not being able to attend a meeting, and they can share leadership responsibilities. The co-coordinators can work together to plan and run neighborhood association meetings. The secretary will keep minutes. We can create other positions and also end those positions as needed. For example, we may want to elect leaders for specific projects or initiatives.

2. So that these leadership roles do not become burdensome and others are able to assume leadership roles, I recommend two-year terms with a two-term limit for the co-coordinators and secretary.

Rationale: There are a number of pros and cons to having someone in the same position for many years, versus rotating people more frequently. I think we are more likely to get broader participation and a willingness to serve if terms are relatively short. Term limits will also require others to step up and assume leadership responsibilities.

3. For the first year terms, I propose that one co-coordinator serve a one-year term, and the other a two-year term, so that the elections for both positions will be staggered, and a new co-coordinator will be working with one with some experience.



4. Co-coordinators and the secretary can take no action in the name of the UHNA without approval of the neighborhood association. They may represent the association, share its positions, and take actions only as formally determined by the association.

Rationale: Leaders of the association should only act with approval of the neighborhood association to avoid misrepresenting the will of the group.

5. Action items to be considered at a meeting will be announced no less than one week in advance.

Rationale: Residents need to know what is coming before the association, and should have the opportunity to speak and vote for or against.

Question: How will announcements be made? Via e-mail? A neighborhood website? With flyers?

6. Action items announced in advance will be formally proposed at a meeting, discussed, and voted on by those present.

Rationale: If people are informed about items coming before the association and have some interest, they should be at the meeting.

7. A majority decision carries.

Question: This could be divisive. Do we want something closer to a consensus? Two-thirds majority? Should we have a one-household one vote rule? Or any neighborhood resident who attends can vote?

8. Action items brought up at a meeting without prior announcement can be discussed, but cannot be brought to a vote until the next meeting, after being announced as an agenda item.

Rationale: See #4.

9. Voting participation in the University Heights Neighborhood Association is restricted to residents (whether owner-occupants or renters) living in the area bounded by Hanna, Asbury, Lawrence, and Shelby.

Question: Do we include both sides of the boundary streets? What do we want to do with businesses, the university, churches? Should other adjoining streets be added? What about the trailer park?

September 11, 2009

University Heights Neighborhood Association Meeting

Tuesday, September 15, at 7 p.m.

UIndy Stierwalt Alumni House, Multipurpose Room

(on the southeast corner of Otterbein and Windermire)



Let’s strike while the iron’s hot!



Many University Heights residents have been working diligently to develop a Mission Statement and Vision Plan for this neighborhood in order to make it an inviting, vibrant area for people to live.



Come to this meeting of the University Heights Neighborhood Association to discuss:

* Neighborhood goals
* “What happens next?”
* Procedures for induction of officers on the association’s board

(Nominations will be accepted at the Oct. 20 meeting and voting will take place at the Nov. 17 meeting.)





SEND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS: A database of resident e-mails is being built in order to send neighborhood news and meeting reminders. Please e-mail Nancy Collins at ncollins@uindy.edu to be added to this group. Include your name, address, and phone number.



MARK YOUR CALENDAR: UHNA meetings will be held the

3rd Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. in the same location, so we can become a proactive versus reactive neighborhood.

September 10, 2009

Neighborhood Meeting, Tuesday, Sept.15

7PM

UIndy Stierwalt Alumni House, Multipurpose Room

August 17, 2009

This year University of Indianapolis announced that the end was near for the housing apartments at the corner of Mathews and Edwards. This week, the moving van came and removed the appliances. Then the big wrecking machines went to town.

What next for this corner of the neighborhood? A skyscraper? Lux condos? An amusement park? Or just a park? Stay tuned for more.

 

 

 
Posted by Picasa

June 8, 2009

Hello, neighbors!
Attached is the Vision Plan and Mission Statement that created from your responses at the two workshops in May. Please look them over and plan to talk about them at the next meeting on Tuesday, June 16, at 7 p.m. in Good Hall Recital Hall (the same place the workshops were held).

Proposed Neighborhood Vision Statement

The University Heights (UH) neighborhood is a community where homeowners and
renters work in unison to create an atmosphere that mimics the sociable ambience, beautification efforts, and safe environment of years past. This commitment contributes to an escalating pride of place that encourages longtime residents to remain and younger residents, many with families,to establish new roots.
The UH neighborhood is an established community where homes were built with character, such as including porches and yards to encourage neighbor interaction. Residents engage in friendly conversation and welcome the continued diversity of homeowners. Tree-lined streets with sidewalks make it a walkable community and easy access to downtown Indianapolis and major highways is an added convenience. The University Heights Neighborhood Association was established to give the residents a common voice, to deal with problems as they arise, and to revitalize the neighborhood.
The UH neighborhood is adjacent to the University of Indianapolis, which adds resources for residents’ use and various other support services, such as police patrols. In recent years, rental property owners have been lackadaisical in the upkeep of their homes and in monitoring their renters’ actions, so current residents have complaints about the lack of ownership renters place on these rental properties. Because of this concern, the University requires certified housing qualifications to be met for its students by following these steps:
  • Rental property owners sign a contract and abide by its rules of conduct, maintenance, and service.
  • Students sign a contract and abide by its rules of conduct, maintenance, and service.
  • Action is taken by the University against students who do not show initiative in the maintenance of the property and/or who do not abide by the rules stated in the contract.
The land that was occupied by the University’s apartments on the corner of Castle Avenue and
Edwards Street is now a park-like setting that includes green space and picnic tables for area
residents.

As the University Heights neighborhood begins its renewed interest in the future of this
close-knit community, businesses and restaurants will move back into the area as they see
opportunities to participate in the revitalization of the area.

University Heights Neighborhood Mission Statement
In order to achieve this vision, we require positive actions by a strong neighborhood association,
committed neighbors, and strong partnerships with the University of Indianapolis and other area businesses.

April 22, 2009

ATTENTION UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS NEIGHBORS:

Are you concerned about?
Loud parties
Pot holes and Abandoned cars
Barking dogs
Unsafe driving
Parked semi trucks
Suspicious people and cars
Door to door solicitations
Graffiti and Vandalism
Litter

Would you like to see?
A beautiful neighborhood sign
A Pocket park
Good sidewalks
Ample street lighting
Repaired streets
Good alleys
Friendly neighbors
Increased property values
Involved landlords

If you said “yes” to any of these questions, then you are a concerned neighbor and care about the future of our neighborhood. There have been some problems and concerns as well as dreams for a better neighborhood in the near future. In order to accomplish these dreams, we must all get involved. The meeting held last fall is proof that we only get a response from neighbors when there are problems. We should stay one step ahead of the problems and work together to make our neighborhood a community that people desire to live in.

We have an opportunity that many neighborhoods do not have – the University of Indianapolis is our neighbor and our friend. They have made it clear that they want to be a good neighbor and are willing to help us; all we have to do is ask. David Wantz, from the Community Relations office at UIndy, has agreed to facilitate a workshop to help create this vision and to also establish a mission statement for our neighborhood.

There will be (2) workshops available in order to accommodate everyone’s schedule:
Monday, May 11, from 7-9 p.m. OR Saturday, May 16, from 9-11 a.m.
Both workshops will be held on the first floor (Recital Hall) of UIndy's Good Hall (big columns on Hanna Ave. and Otterbein"

(Map available here: http://www.uindy.edu/maps/campusmap.php)

Please mark your calendar and plan to attend either session. I am looking forward to working with all of you to make our neighborhood the neighborhood of choice.

Sincerely,
Denny Rusher
President, University Heights Neighborhood Association

April 14, 2009

There is a neighborhood board meeting tonight, Tuesday, April 14th at 7:00 p.m. at the Alumni Building. All neighbors welcome. Hope to see all of you there.

Discussed will be the topic of the outcome of the Married Student Housing Building at the corner of Edwards and Mathews.

March 31, 2009

Hello UIndy Community!

It's that time of year again for the Great Indy Cleanup! I know many participated last year, and the Community Programs Center, along with Campus Program Board, would like to extend that opportunity to you again.

The Great Indy Cleanup will take place on Saturday April 4th, 2009. Registration starts at 9 am by UIndy Hall, with the service projects lasting from 9:30 am until noon. These projects range from picking up trash at UIndy and the surrounding community, as well as the Hannah House and University Heights church and preschool. The hours of service accumulated can be added to students' transcripts.

Lunch and t-shirts will be provided to all who participate.

Registration is currently taking place! There are green forms available in SC 209 (Student Affairs Office). However, if you would like us to send you an electronic copy of the form, please e-mail us a response. Registration can be by individual or teams.

Also, we are looking for Group Leaders for each of the projects during this event. The Group Leaders would be responsible for taking a group to an area assigned to them. We would love for faculty to participate as Group Leaders. If any faculty members are interested, please have them respond to me for more details.

This will be an exciting event, and we hope many of your will want to take part!

Thank you for your time!!!!

----

Marianna K. Foulkrod
Community Partnerships & Service Coordinator

March 18, 2009

Tuesday, March 24th at 7:00 p.m. in Alumni Hall. This will be a regular style meeting, just barebones, so eat before you come.

Denny says "Hope to see everyone there!"

Everyone is welcome.
Bring your ideas. Bring a neighbor!

Greg

March 11, 2009

The City of Indianapolis website has some new features on it. I was pleased to find some specific improvements with some new information that you might want to refer to periodically, namely for scheduled chuckhole repairs.



http://www.indy.gov/eGov/City/DPW/Road/StreetRepairs/Pages/PotholeRepairSchedule.aspx is where you can access the scheduled repairs. DPW restructured last year into planned and unplanned repairs. This allowed them to initiate scheduled maintenance, which as any good car owner knows is key to maintaining things properly. This link is for the crews doing the preventive maintenance for known stretches of bad road. Unplanned repairs are not listed here, as they are by definition unplanned. That is in response to your emails and calls.



Please use the new link to report potholes directly 24 hours a day at http://www.indy.gov/eGov/Mayor/Pages/MACenter.aspx.



Gary

Gary A. Loveless

Mayor's Neighborhood Liaison/Perry and Franklin Twps.

Mayor Gregory A. Ballard

2160 City-County Building

March 9, 2009

While this is a funny name, it works wonders for entering your chuckholes that need fixed. You can enter them yourself at whatever time of the day or night you happen to think of it and have time. 24 hours. And it goes DIRECTLY into the software to get it fixed. The weather is cooperating better now, but the two day repair time we were down to is now up again, but expect all repairs to be completed in ten days is what we are being told. A street address is important to enter this into the software so please write down a close address.

Here is the link to our page!

http://www.indy.gov/eGov/Mayor/Pages/MACenter.aspx

March 4, 2009

Southside Neighborhood Forum

Sponsored by the GSBA (Greater Southport Business Alliance)

Wednesday, March 25th

7-8 pm

Southport Community Center

6901 Derbyshire Rd

Topic: CRIME: How to identify, protect and inform

others regarding small crimes, thefts, vandalism,

graffiti, taggingand gangs

Facilitator: Kevin Wheeler, Government Affairs Chair, GSBA

Representatives from:

Southport Police Department

Indianapolis Metro Police

Homecroft Police Department

Marion County Prosecutors Office

Perry Township Schools

Attendance Benefits:

LEARN:

Who to call/how to report

What to do to protect property and person

How to ID Suspected criminal activity/persons

**Sign up for future Focus groups**

Panel Discussion

For more information, please contact the GSBA at: 787-1300