MIDTOWN NEWS

This is your GARDEN DISTRICT NEWSLETTER      June 2002


MIDTOWN MESSAGE

 It is raining still….Maybe it is not one of those showers that is here one minute and gone the next, as I had so boldly assumed.  Maybe none of them are.  After all, life in itself is a chain of rainy days.  But there are the times when not all of us have umbrellas to walk under.   Those are the times we need people who are willing to lend their umbrellas to a wet stranger on a rainy day.  I think I'll go for a walk with my umbrella.

Sun-Young Park

MAY SUMMARY 

This month we honored Martha Cooper for her years of service as an Officer of Midtown.  Martha was the first president of the Midtown Neighborhood Association.  She said that after her children were grown she began to feel out of touch with her neighbors.  She began the Neighborhood Association as a way to reconnect with her neighborhood.  Martha, I think it worked!  Thank you!

Other business included an antenna, some bonsai trees, and a liquor license.  Anna Marie Patti reported that Alltel proposes to place a 40 foot antenna between Fry's and the Botanical Gardens.   The Botanical Gardens ould like the antenna to be placed in front of Fry's because of the possible disruption to the birds who live in the Gardens. 

Mike and Curt from the Southern Arizona Bonsai Enthusiasts came to talk about their involvement in this new club honoring the ancient art form.  We learned that Bonsai is not a type of tree, but a style of pruning it.  They shared several examples of southwestern trees that they have developed into Bonsai trees.

Bailey's Platinum Club, located on Speedway just West of Alvernon, is seeking a liquor license.  Officer Domanico spoke on behalf of the police department stating that they feel it is a bad idea due to the fact that unlawful behavior in and around the bar has been an ongoing problem.  Brad Holland will write a letter from Midtown opposing the license upgrade. 

SUBCOMMITTEE UPDATES 

LEGO CLUB:  David Kha reports that the club has 22 members so far.  

Midtown Follow-up:   Their grant for $10,000 has been approved.  The money will be used to help promote "the Lords of Legos".  David also reports that Misha Chernobelskiy deserves a lot of the credit for the club's success. If you would like more information, please call David at 323-8278.


LIBRARY/LEARNING CENTER:  Martha Cooper reports that Andy Squire is still attempting to set up a meeting with members of the Pima County Board of Supervisors.  Brad Holland asks neighbors to call Ann Day (740-8126) to let her know how important it is to us that she move forward on this issue and to ask her to "unbundle" the funds from other funding it has been grouped and stalled with.   Andy Squire reports that he is providing all the necessary data to Supervisors Day and Elias and that the next steering committee meeting is set for the end of May and hopefully will have good news. 

JOHN B. WRIGHT:   Lisa Langford reports that school is out and summer school will be held from June 3rd to June 28th.  The school is providing free breakfast and lunch to all neighborhood children under the age of eighteen during the month of June.  Breakfast is served at 7:30am.  Lisa also reports that 93 fifth grade students were promoted to middle school!  

Midtown Follow-up:   The freestanding building at Wright School will be located in the same place as the current portable unit.  This is as a result of concerns brought about by neighbors. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

JFLOWER ANGEL OF THE MONTH:  This month's Flower Angel is nominated by Meg Johnson. Betty is an elderly woman who lives in Fontier Village.  Meg believes she is the original owner of the home she lives in.  She walks as her health allows and stops and chats with everyone.  She acts as unofficial historian for Frontier Village, remembering who lived where from decades ago.  Maybe she will write us a story for the Newsletter!

 NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN UP:  The neighborhood clean-up seemed to be a big success as reported by Chris Wallace, the neighbor who volunteered his backyard for the dumpster.   He said that he witnessed lot of people trying fill up that dumpster! 

PIMA STREET RE-STRIPING:  Andy Squire reports that Councilman Fred Ronstadt has all the documentation on this issue, thanks to Martha Cooper's excellent record-keeping.  Ronstadt will meet with the city manager to discuss the re-striping. 

NEXT MEETING
 August 20th, 2002
6:30 p.m.
John B. Wright School

 Please Note:

We will not be meeting in June or July.

Have a cool, safe, and fun summer.   See you in the fall!