Dodge/Flower Neighborhood Association

2002-2003 Winter Newsletter

Feb 03, 2003

Neighbors Beautify Our Neighborhood
Volunteers Cleanup and Enjoy a Picnic Lunch
What a great group of neighbors we have! Over 30 came out to help make Dodge/Flower streets more beautiful.
THANK YOU! to everyone who walked the 6+ miles of streets and alleys in our neighborhood: Pat Hamilton, Terry, Angie, Jason & Brian Sprouse, John Cise, Jean and ElizabethD'Andrea, Marie & Harry Cornelius, Karl, Jen & Jake Lehmann, John Kuschnereit, Kristine Billings, Rebecca Raub,Emma Hockenberg, Cody Laudon & the Vida Serena crew,Mick McLaughlin & the Compass crew, CPSA's Cheryl Fanning- Jim Cates - Mary Hansbraugh - Miriam Kile, and Ward III's Bennett Bernal. And thank you to those neighbors who offered support in other ways: Beverly Van Den Borre, Elizabeth Ramey, Paul Gonzales, and special guest David Kha who took pictures for our website.
Many hands make light work - Lunch was scheduled for noon, but with all the helpers, the work was done by 10:30! This made it possible for neighbors to have lunch and visit with each other before taking off to catch the UofA basketball game. The sore muscles and weariness from walking, bending, lifting and trashbag-lugging were temporarily forgotten as the volunteers enjoyed a picnic lunch of sandwiches, fried chicken and cake generously donated by Subway, Church's Chicken and Costco.
Thanks to TMM Family Services & City of Tucson
Departments. TMM Family Services provided their empty lot next to Mission Vista Apts, making it a perfect spot to set up our base of operations. Floyd Thompson of the Dept of Neighborhood Resources arranged for the dumpster to be delivered by Solid Waste Management, and supplied us with trash bags, gloves and face masks. Ronni Kotwica provided "picker-uppers" for those hard to reach places.

❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀

Tips to make our neighborhood beautiful - There are simple ways we can make our neighborhood more attractive.
Take a grocery bag when you go out walking to pick up any trash along the way; Cut weeds on your property (not only do weeds look bad, but they are also a fire danger when they dry out); Pull back your trash barrels from the curb; Remove your signs from the corner when your yard sale is over.
Call Solid Waste Mgmt (791-3171) for information on unkempt properties relating to garbage, trash, debris, weeds, outside residential storage, and junk vehicles.
Appearances of neglect and disregard invite crime.

$$ ❀ $$ ❀ $$ ❀ $$ ❀ $$ ❀ $$ ❀ $$ ❀ $$

Dodge/Flower Flea Market
Saturday, March 15
What better way to get our neighbors out and about? You can buy a table ($5) to sell from, or donate unwanted items to D/FNA to sell for fundraising.
Goals:
- Raise $ for D/FNA and neighbors!
- Bring neighbors together socially!
- Sell unwanted items and have fun!
Needed:
- Volunteers to sell coffee, muffins, soda & hot dogs
- Donated items to be sold by D/FNA
- Publicize the event with flyers and word-of-mouth
Location:
2460 N. Dodge (home of John Cise)
Parking across the street
For more information, come to our March 1st regular meeting, or call John at 327-3135

☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼

Signatures Needed on Petition to Keep the Grant/Dodge Traffic Signal
A study regarding the possible removal of the traffic signal at Grant and Dodge has just been completed. The study, prepared by Marcos Esparza of TransCore, including Mr. Esparza's recommendations, is on it's way to the Mayor
and Council. We need as many signatures as possible from residents who want to leave the traffic signal as is. If you want to sign the petition, please contact your street rep:
Baxter (2700-2799) and Bermuda (3600-3699) - Pat Hamilton (325-4382)
Dodge (2600-2799) - Jo Zane (327-8270)
Dodge (2400-2599) - John Cise (327-3135)
Haskell (2400-2599) - Linda Bansback (795-6674)
Nordic (2700-2799) - Dolores Stadelman (325-4406)
Winstel (2600-2799) - Eve LeVine (326-8914)
If you don't have a street rep, please consider becoming one for your street. Call Barbara at 237- 2140 to sign up.

☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼

Barking Dogs
Unreasonable noise makes neighborhoods more dangerous. Dogs which bark unreasonably drive neighbors inside. When my neighbors turn inward, draw their drapes and seek peace and quiet in their homes, it is more likely that someone can come out my back door carrying my TV, unnoticed.
Animal welfare organizations discourage the use of dogs for security. Own a dog for companionship and keep it with you. If you cannot keep your dog with you, crate train it. Dogs are descendants of denning animals. In your absence, they are happiest in a small space which they can defend completely.
What constitutes unreasonable barking? If your dog is more sensitive than a home or auto security alarm, you are being unreasonable and you can be cited. A functioning security alarm does not go off when someone walks by, neither should your dog, That goes for passing cats, other dogs, joggers, garbage trucks, ambulances and the shining moon above.
Statistics show we are most likely to be burglarized by someone we know, or someone who lives within 200 feet of our home. That means, the perp is someone who sees you come and go and who knows your dog. In my neighborhood, the most expensive burglaries have been perpetrated on the owners of the biggest and loudest dogs. The crooks simply opened the yard gate and allowed the wound up pets to run wild in the street. This made the neglected dogs very happy. They ran joyously wild, sniffing and baptizing the bushes as the bad guys crawled through the Rottweiler sized doggie door and cleaned out the house.
Your dog does not call 911. Your neighbors do. It is important to keep your neighbors watchful and happy. A random noise generator in your backyard repeatedly barking "wolf" puts you and your neighborhood at higher risk of crime. A quiet neighborhood is a safer neighborhood.
Brad Holland, Esq.
Pima County Special Magistrate for
Dangerous Dogs and Unreasonable Barking
President, Midtown: The Garden District
(Numbers to call to file a complaint against the owner of barking dog: Pima County Animal Control (PCAC) 743-7550); Tucson Police Dept 911.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

☺ Peace and Quiet ☺
Please be considerate of your neighbors by keeping excessive noise to a minimum. We may live in the heart of the city, but that doesn't mean we have to tolerate loud and prolonged disturbing noises, whether it be music, machinery or barking dogs. In fact, the City Code prohibits noises and has established standards for excessive noise that "produce clearly audible sound beyond the property line of the property on which they are conducted and disturb the public peace, quiet or comfort of the neighboring inhabitants"
(Tucson City Code of Ordinances; Chapter 11; Article II, Sec.11-73).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOW TO REPORT DRUG ACTIVITY
Take Action Against Drug Activity
Do you ever see suspicious activity on your street and wonder if it is drug related?
"The DEA [Drug Enforcement Agency] encourages citizens to report drug-related activity in their neighborhood.
Call 573-5500 and ask for the duty agent. You may remain anonymous. You may also call the Pima County Attorney's Office anonymous tipster line, 88-CRIME, or 911."
(Arizona Daily Star, July 12, 2002)
**************************************
Do you have a Neighborhood Watch and a telephone tree on your street or in your apt. complex?
Recently two men in their early 20's walked into an elderly woman's yard, pushed open her unlocked security door, held up a gun, and demanded to know if she had a safe in her house. Her son happened to be there and said there was no safe but offered them $20 instead. They took the money and left without incident.
The description of the men is as follows: one white (very white) with a pointed nose, one dark and Hispanic. Both wearing hooded sweatshirts with wool caps on their heads. The day of the home invasion was very warm, but they still had on sweats and caps.
Call 911 if you see these men around the neighborhood.
Make sure to lock your doors. When crimes like this happen in our neighborhood, we will broadcast the information via email.
However, for those neighbors without email, it's important to have a telephone tree.
❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀
We are sorry to say that our Vice President, Hugh McCarthy and his family have moved out of the neighborhood. Hugh, Tammy and Morgan had been wonderful neighbors since 1998. Harry and Marie Cornelius said Hugh was always quick to offer assistance whenever he saw Harry doing anything outside that he might need help with. We'll miss the McCarthys but wish them well.
Hugh's move has left a vacancy on the Board. In accordance with our Bylaws (see below), the remaining Board members will make a recommendation for a replacement to be voted
on at the March 1 regular meeting.
"In the event an officer or advocate cannot complete his/her duties, a replacement officer or advocate shall be appointed by the Board and approved by the voting Members. The interim officer or advocate may be a qualified Member in Good standing. A Member in Good Standing is any Member who has paid annual dues, or attended 4 meetings in the 12 months preceding the Annual Meeting."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January 14th Meeting Minutes (pending approval)
Meeting was called to order at 6:35 PM. Prior meeting minutes and Treasurer's report were presented for approval.

Grant/Dodge traffic light removal discussion was lead by Marcos Esparza, principle engineer, TransCore who indicated this issue has been on the table for 2 years, originally proposed by resident feedback. Pros: Removal could improve traffic flow (this light does not meet standard half mile/one mile spacing). They looked at traffic volume and accident rate and are putting
together a proposal. Cons: Possibly increase pedestrian accidents and reduce flow through Dodge. Also at risk are schoolchildren, blind people and elderly/handicapped that rely on light. Volume: Dodge traffic count South from Ft. Lowell = 6K/day; North =15K/day. 16 hawks currently in use with excellent accident records. 120 rear-end collisions at Dodge/Grant per year. Q: (unanswered) besides pedestrians, does hawk give cars right of way, when signal is in their favor? Pedestrian counts were not available. Grant traffic volume = 43K/day. A letter writing campaign and neighborhood petition were suggested. There will be a Town Hall on this subject, date TBA. A vote was taken and 20 households voted (unanimously) to keep the traffic light.

Announcement: Neighborhood Cleanup/Dumpsters
Saturday Jan 25 at TMM Lot near corner of Dodge and Grant. Meet at 8am. Cleaning tools and gloves will be provided. Map of neighborhood will be posted, so an organized street-by-street
cleaning can be performed. Pickup trucks will be available to assist folks move larger items. Possible volunteers from TMM, Catalina HS, CPSA/Compass/SAMHC.

$2 dues collections were made.

VOTE: Bylaw changes. Motion made by Barbara Lehmann, seconded by John Cise. 20 votes unanimously cast to accept the proposed bylaw changes, which had been discussed at length at previous meetings. Since 20 out of 30 dues-paying members were present, we had a quorum

Pigeon Infestation - Informational handout to battle pigeons was distributed and discussed briefly, including measures to eradicate the pests.

Old business: there is no money for any additional sealcoating of streets based on Barbara's research.

Back to Basics Discussion - Only 6 petitions for speedhumps were received. Money for 45 was made available, but the deadline for this funding is February 1st. Some neighbors felt the speedhumps/ tables (BOTH are included in this funding) could present a flood hazard as they could divert water off the street and into houses.

CPSA - Elizabeth Ramey is concerned about signs on the premises which are not doing a great job of directing folks. Representatives from the facility indicated signage was not complete. When done, easy identification of where to go should not be a problem.

New Item:
A proposal was made for a fund-raising/social flea market would take place in Mid March. Hosted by John Cise, the bring-
your-own-table event would take place in his front yard, with parking at the TMM Lot and Dodge Flower Apartments (Elizabeth Ramey, manager). Table space will be sold at $5 each with all proceeds going to DFNA. A donation table will be set up to receive donations of items which would also be sold to benefit DFNA.

Barbara is working on a newsletter for which she solicited articles.

Meeting adjourned at 7:55 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
John Cise, Secretary
-----------------
Any articles you'd like to contribute to the newsletter are encouraged and appreciated. The deadline for the Spring newsletter is April 15. Call Barbara at 237-2140 if you wish to contribute. Your article will also be posted on our website.
--------------------------
MARCH 1
MEETING AGENDA
- Call to Order
- Reading and Approval of January 14 Minutes
- Treasurer's Report
- Guest Speaker, Steve Farley of CFASTS (Citizens for a Sensible Transportation Solution)
- Future Projects
- Call to the Audience
- Adjournment

Steve Farley will join us at our next meeting to give a presentation on the benefits of a balanced transportation system in general, and the CFASTS plan in particular. Anyone who relies on public transportation and who drives on Tucson's roads will find Steve's talk interesting and informative.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please note the location of our next meeting will be at the Oasis Apartments at the southeast corner of Dodge and Flower.