IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD - JANUARY, 2013

Auburndale Neighborhood Association

Meeting held January 23, 2013 – Kenwood School Library

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. by President Kenny Williams.  He welcomed everyone and invited them to enjoy the refreshments -- peach tea, cookies and donuts.  There were 29 people present. 

 

Christmas Party

There were many favorable comments from attendees, some first-timers.  The pizza was a success.  Santa did a great job as well as the d.j., those who worked with the children, and everyone who helped make this event fun and entertaining.  The dishes brought in by members were delicious (and gone quickly)!  Attendance was 110.

 

We received a thank you from a nearby neighbor and his wife who were unable to attend the Christmas Party due to illness.  Members took pizza and other Holiday Goodies to them, which they enjoyed every much.

 

Report on our Christmas Giving to a Needy Family

Kenny Williams and Kenny McFarland took everything collected to Kenwood Heights Christian Church.  We had tremendous support from our membership for the selected family.  Cash and gift cards, boxes of canned goods, clothing and personal gifts were given.  Appreciation was expressed to us!

 

Treasurer’s Report

Ray Crider gave the financial report.

 

NOTE -- February Meeting – Canceled.  There will be no school on that day (that entire week) and we will not be able to use the building.   Next Meeting: Tuesday, March 26, 2013, 7:00

 

Marty Meyer’s report for David Yates  – Marty said the biggest news is the proposed Southwest Regional Library.  There will be an Open House on February 4 between 6-8 p.m.  David Yates along with Mayor Fischer and the head of the library will have 99% of the plans for this library to show to the public. It will be on Dixie Highway north of Meijer behind Pizza Hut.  There are to be three new state-of-the-art regional libraries – the one on Dixie, one in Okolona, and one in the north east of the county.  The Dixie one will have the largest amount of books in the library system locally, second only to the downtown branch.  It will be open summer of 2014.

 

Ken McFarland welcomed our guests tonight – Mike Hayman, the tree expert who has been with us recently, along with Robert Woodford and Liz DeHart, with Olmsted Conservancy.

 

On a tree note, Ken said the trees that are being held for us are in and we will plant them as soon as weather permits.

 

Olmsted Conservancy --

Liz explained the origin of the Olmsted Conservancy and its purpose.  As marketing director, she wanted to address the Value of Urban Parks.  She said in Jefferson County there are 122 parks covering more than 12,000 acres. 

 

Olmsted has 18 parks and 6 parkways.  The others are managed by the Metro Parks Department.  There is a master plan for a project in individual parks and she reviewed the steps in creating the master plans, along with a visual presentation about the environment and also highlighting the pavilions in the parks.  Many members tried to remember the exact date of the Sunnyhill Pavilion.  It seemed to be in the early ‘40s or late ‘30s.  If anyone has personal photos that are dated showing the pavilion from years ago, she would love to have a copy to incorporate in their files.

 

Liz showed photos of several parks, including the damage done to the trees due to the ’74 tornado and more recent storms as well as some selected projects for each park.

 

In response to questions about the sad shape of the road going to the top of Iroquois, Liz said it is definitely recognized that the road to the top of Iroquois is in bad shape and the amount of traffic on the road has to be limited.  It was suggested that monies could be given and designated to the northern overlook at Iroquois, where the stones have disappeared from the wall.  Stephen Cotton recommended our association adopting the park.  

 

Many plants and shrubs were shown and it was apparent that anything growing up the trunk of a tree and winding around it is considered invasive (some popular vines and plants were in this category).   

 

Robert Woodford presented photos of some of the most invasive plants in our area – Bittersweet, English Ivy, Japenese Honeysuckle and Winter Creeper.  He works in planting trees and getting rid of the invasive vines.  It is a very time-consuming effort.

 

He told us that Kentucky has an Exotic Invasive Plant Council which follows all the activity of these plans in our state.

 

All agreed that the presentations were most informative and there were many questions which our guests stayed after the meeting adjourned to answer.

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,  Joyce Whalin