The Bryan Park Neighborhood Association's has a new website!

You can now follow as at the following address:

bryanpark.bloomington.in.us

Block Party 2015!!

Block Party!

Friday, September 11, 2015

6-9 pm

1200 block of S. Palmer

(between Grimes & Driscoll)

(In case of rain, the party will be held on Saturday, September 12, same time & place)

• Please bring a side dish to share!
• BPNA will supply grilled fish, drinks, cups, napkins, plates & plasticware.
• Nick's English Hut will supply their famous Nick‛s burgers, veggie burgers, condiments and buns.
• If you are able, please bring your yearly membership dues. Suggested $10 household, $5 student/senior household
• Silent Auction: bid on items donated by local businesses and individuals to support the neighborhood.

Sponsors/Entertainment

• Nick‛s English Hut has offered local libations & great tasting, affordable meals for almost 85 years. Check out their expanded dining section for the under 21 crowd. 
• City of Bloomington's Housing and Neighborhood Development Small and Simple grant program provides part of the funding for the block party.
• Craig Brenner & Friends: Enjoy the sounds of local blues, jazz and boogie woogie! (www.craigbrenner.com)
• Joe Lee‛s Famous Clown Act: Our neighbor Joe Lee, professionally trained clown, will perform for the kids!

Monroe County Energy Challenge

Dear CONA members,

Please spread the word within your neighborhood about the Monroe County Energy Challenge! (Our community’s entry for the $5 million Georgetown University Energy Prize.) We encourage neighbors to perform a task each month to achieve community-wide savings.

The task for March is to find and seal air leaks in your home.

46% of the energy used in an average home goes to heating and cooling. But much of that is wasted. Seemingly small gaps can add up to the equivalent of leaving a window open year 'round! The cold weather we've been experiencing lately gives us a great opportunity to find leaky places! 

The March Task of the Month information sheet is attached. It includes a list of common leaks and how to fill different sized gaps.

 Do you need help weatherizing your home?

Monroe County Energy Challenge (http://mocoenergychallenge.org/) volunteers will take thermal images to help homeowners locate leaks. And this spring our “Energy Mobile”, sponsored by Vectren, will be stocked with materials to help with weatherization tasks. Taking the Energy Mobile to neighborhoods, trained volunteers will lead a work day to help participating neighbors seal their homes’ gaps.

To participate, have a group of your neighbors take our pledge to undertake changes that will save them money and energy, based on the Task of the Month program. Then contact us at mocoenergychallenge@gmail.com to schedule a weatherization day in your neighborhood.

Please forward this to your neighborhood distribution list! 

Thanks,

Molly O'Donnell

Member, Eastside Neighborhood Association

Chair, Residential Programs Committee,

Area 10 Agency on Aging Caring Companions

Bryan Park Neighbors,

Mela Hatchett, from the Area 10 Agency on Aging, came to our last neighborhood meeting and spoke to us about their Caring Companions program. Below is follow-up information regarding opportunities in our neighborhood for seniors and individuals with physical disabilities

Regards, Jon Lawrence

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mela Hatchett <mhatchett@area10agency.org>
Date: Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 4:52 PM
Subject: RE: Volunteers That Help Seniors At Home
To: Bryan Park <bryanparkna@gmail.com>

Hello Jon,

Thank you so much for inviting me to meet your dynamic group of dedicated neighbors! It was so much fun to hear what you all have and are accomplishing.

Here is the pertinent information from my presentation along with a link to the Caring Companions website for complete details about the program:

“Caring Companions is a volunteer based program of Area 10 Agency on Aging  committed to helping seniors and individuals with physical disabilities to remain independent at home for as long as possible. Since 2010, this program has proven to be a safe and successful way to thoughtfully match volunteers with “neighbors” who desire assistance throughout Monroe and Owen County.

Matches between Volunteers and Neighbors in need are based on information they provide. Each Volunteer is screened through background checks and one-to-one interviews with the program coordinator at Area 10. The Volunteer identifies the services they are willing to provide as well as when and how often they are available to help someone. Each Neighbor who requests help receives a home visit from the program coordinator to clearly identify what kind of assistance they need, how often they need it, and any preference they may have in a volunteer. Once a match is identified, the program coordinator arranges a meeting between the two and personally introduces them to each other, making sure that the Neighbor's needs will be met and that both are comfortable with the arrangement.

With the increase of calls for help, there is a need for an increase of available volunteers. Our ultimate goal is to create a network of volunteers within each neighborhood and to identify one or two volunteers who could assist the program coordinator with the matching process. The advantages would be that the Neighbor's need can be met faster, the Volunteer has a more economical and accessible way to make a positive impact, and it provides a stronger feeling of "home" support that can strengthen the bonds of community throughout the neighborhood.

For more information on the types of services that are being offered, how to make a request for assistance, or how to make yourself available to help out, please visit our website at http://www.area10agency.org/caringcompanions .”

I greatly appreciate this and look forward to working with more of your neighbors in the future!

Mela

Mela Hatchett
Area 10 Agency on Aging
RSVP Assistant Director / Caring Companions / Money Management
631 Edgewood Dr.
Ellettsville, IN  47429
(812) 876-3383 ext. 554

CONA Annual Celebration January 26, 2015

Dear Neighborhood Leader,

The 2nd Annual Celebration of Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA) will be held on Monday, January 26, 7pm at the Fountain Square Ballroom. Come represent your neighborhood and meet people from other neighborhoods. This is our evening to celebrate all the wonderful things neighborhoods do to create a great community.

Please share this message with your neighborhood association. Everyone is welcome!

Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA)

2nd Annual Celebration

Monday, January 26

7-9pm

Fountain Square Ballroom

(Light refreshments and cash bar)

The reception is free to attend. We hope to see you there!

P.S. Contact conabloomington@gmail.com if you have questions.

Neighborhood Meeting 1/27/2015

Bryan Park Neighbors,

The next meeting of the Bryan Park Neighborhood Association is this Tuesday, January 27, 7pm at the Free Methodist Church on the corner of Grimes and Lincoln.

We have 2 interesting items on the agenda:

• Neighborhood Police Report – Sgt. Pam Gladish, Bloomington Police
• Monroe County Energy Challenge – Molly O’Donnell, Co-chair Residential Committee

We hope to see you there!

Annual Plant and Seed Exchange!

Don't miss the BPNA annual plant and seed exchange! 
SUNDAY APRIL 20th 2-4PM at 932 S Henderson St (on Henderson and Allen)
Please bring any garden plants that you want to share, or seedlings that need a home. Ria Collee will be giving away native wildflower plants (and seeds) such as echinacea, penstemon, lavender hyssop, lavender bergamot, wild senna, turtlehead, prairie blazing star, sundrops, woodland sunflowers, goosenecks and black-eyed susans as well as vegetable seedling, tomatoes, peppers, etc.
Even if you don’t have anything to give away, come anyway and give some plants a home or take away some seeds to start a garden. This event is a great way to meet the other gardeners in the neighborhood and it has always been a great deal of fun!!

BPNA email rules

At the 2/25/2014 Bryan Park Neighborhood Association Meeting, the following language was approved for use of the BPNA Google Group (bryanpark@googlegroups.com).

***********************************

Thank you for considering being part of the Bryan Park Neighborhood Association (BPNA) Google Group (Group). By joining this Group, you agree to follow the etiquette guidelines set by the BPNA Executive Committee. You need not be a member of the BPNA to use this Group, but must adhere to the guidelines in order to be a member in good standing. Since the Group serves the BPNA, postings to it should relate to the purpose of BPNA:

• To promote the general welfare of residents of the Bryan Park neighborhood
• To maintain and improve the dignity and integrity of the Bryan Park neighborhood.
• To preserve the residential quality of the Bryan Park neighborhood. 
• To encourage homeowners, and owners of rental property and businesses to maintain and improve their real estate in the Bryan Park neighborhood. 
• To promote orderly and compatible land use in the Bryan Park neighborhood. 
• To work together concerning problems or issues of concerns common to the Association. 
• To provide a voice for the members of the Association. 

The BPNA recognizes that the articulation of common interests, strong communication links with residents, and the constant pursuit of broad-based participation in Association activities are critical to the success of the Association, and shall be fundamental considerations guiding Association action.

Purpose 

This Group is for the dissemination of information related to the Bryan Park Neighborhood Association in Bloomington Indiana and events relevant to the neighborhood.

Agreement

By virtue of joining this group or posting to the discussions or using the listserv, you have agreed to follow these etiquette guidelines.
Participation

• Sign posts using your real name.
• Include a subject line germane to the message. State concisely and clearly the specific topic of the comments in the subject line. This allows members to respond more appropriately to your posting and makes it easier for members to search the archives by subject. 
• Keep topics within forum purpose. 
• Be Civil, this is a public forum with real people. Respect among citizens with differing views is our cornerstone. 
• No obscene, libelous, harassing, racist, hateful, offensive or violent language or images. 
• No personal attacks or threats against individuals or groups. 
• Not for business use, no commercial postings or business marketing, endorsements, solicitations or promotional messages - you may post personal items, property or services 
• No political endorsements or political campaign postings. 
• If your comment is intended for an individual, please email that individual rather than posting to their entire group. Only send a message to the entire list when it contains information that benefits everyone.
• Send messages such as "thanks for the information" or "me, too" to individuals--not to the entire list. Do this by using your e-mail application's forwarding option and typing in or cutting and pasting in the e-mail address of the individual to whom you want to respond. 

Examples of permitted and non-permitted uses

• Permitted Uses
  • homeowner looking for contractor references
  • individuals (not realtors) seeking housing or homeowners offering houses to rent or for sale
  • posting notices of neighborhood school events and school fundraisers
  • expressing concerns about neighborhood & community issues
  • announcing small items to give away or sell on a non-regular basis such as yard sales, bikes, furniture for sale or free
  • posting services such as non-commercial mowing, snow removal, etc.
• Non-Permitted Uses
  • advertising, marketing or promoting business services or products
  • posts seeking clients or business opportunities, such as:
  • realtors seeking clients or offering homes for sale or rent or seeking homes to sell or rent
  • advertising of services for home maintenance
  • web services
  • political endorsements or campaign postings

Violation of rules

• The BPNA Executive Committee, after fair warning, reserves the right to suspend Google Group membership for anyone who violates one or more of these guidelines. The BPNA Executive Committee reserves the right to modify these guidelines.

Neighborhood Meeting 3-25-2014

The next meeting of the Bryan Park Neighborhood Association is Tuesday, March 25, 7pm at the Free Methodist Church on the corner of Grimes Lane and Lincoln Ave.

Agenda for 10-22-2013 Meeting

The next meeting of the Bryan park Neighborhood Association is tomorrow (Tuesday), 7:00pm at the Methodist Church on Grimes and Lincoln. Hope to see you there. Below is the agenda for the evening.

 

• Old Business
• Neighborhood Improvement Grant – Jan Sorby
• Bump outs on Lincoln and Washington
• Templeton Henderson garden
• Davis Street garden
• New Business
• Recycling issues in neighborhoods – Jim Gronquist
• University Courts – Jon Lawrence
• BPNA Newsletter – Jon Lawrence
• Technology Tools for Neighborhoods - Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013, 7-8:30 p.m. City Council Chambers

Next BPNA Meeting Tuesday, October 22

Bryan Park Neighbors,

The next neighborhood association meeting is next Tuesday, October 22, 7pm at the Methodist Church at the corner of Grimes and Lincoln. Everyone is welcome.

BPNA Monthly Meeting Tues. 7/24

Hi Neighbors,
The monthly meeting of the Bryan Park Neighborhood Association will be this Tuesday, July 24. As usual, we'll meet at 7:00 p.m. at the Free Methodist Church on the corner of Grimes and S. Lincoln.
Below is the agenda for the meeting.

• Purchase of e-mail domain for BPNA – Kerry Greer
• BPNA Newsletter – Kerry Greer
• BPNA Constitution - Jacob Farmer
• BPNA Elections – Jon Lawrence
• 406 E. Hillside façade – Jim Gronquist
• Neighborhood Cleanup – Judith Sylvester
• Block Party Update – Jon Lawrence

We look forward to seeing everyone there.
Jon

BPNA Monthly Meeting Tues. 6/26

Hi Neighbors,

The monthly meeting of the Bryan Park Neighborhood Association will be this Tuesday, June 26. As usual, we'll meet at 7:00 p.m. at the Free Methodist Church on the corner of Grimes and S. Lincoln.

This month, our main topic will be the proposed changes to our by-laws regarding the structure of our group. BPNA usually holds elections at the June meeting. This year, there has been a proposal to move from our current officer structure and go to a five-member executive committee. A number of Bloomington’s neighborhood associations are going toward this style of governance. 

We will look at the McDoel neighborhood association by-laws with the executive committee (EC) format. We’ll also look at changes proposed to the BPNA by-laws at the May meeting, and talk more about making this change. Please come to this week’s meeting if you’d like to contribute to the discussion.

As I’ve said, I am retiring as president. Jon Lawrence has volunteered to take over the email list. He'll send out more information on that as we make the transition. 

It's been a real privilege to get to know so many of you, and to work together on making our great neighborhood even better.  

Thanks,

Mary

Stray dog on Davis

A reddish dog with tags was sighted on Davis street near Lincoln at approximately 6:30 pm Wednesday. I was unable to catch him before he ran away. His/her photo is attached. He was obviously afraid and barking at various people who got near him.

BPNA Monthly Meeting 5/22

Our monthly meeting will be this Tuesday, May 22. As usual, we'll meet at 7:00 p.m. at the Free Methodist Church on the corner of Grimes and S. Lincoln.

BPNA Elections in June

BPNA holds elections at every June meeting.  As I’ve said, I am retiring as president at this June’s meeting. Usually, we would hold an election at that meeting. This year, there has been a proposal to move from our current officer structure and go to a 5 member executive committee. A number of Bloomington’s neighborhood associations are going toward this style of governance.  This 5 member executive committee might be a way to get more folks to be involved.

 

We will look at the McDoel by-laws with the “executive committee” (EC) format. We’ll also look at the BPNA by-laws for how we might go about making this change.

 

At the June meeting, we may vote to change the by-laws. Please come to this week’s meeting if you’d like to contribute to the discussion.

 

Blooming Neighborhoods

This year the Blooming Neighborhood Awards will be presented at the Farmer's Market on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.

 

Bryan Park will be awarded a Certificate of Recognition from the City Council Neighborhood Enhancement Award for two projects–the bridge across the creek and kiosk in Bryan Park (coming summer 2012).

 

Report on Switchyard Park meetings?

Anyone who attended the meetings, please feel free to share your impressions.

 

Block Party Update

The block party date is set for August 24. Update on plans. Anyone with thoughts about location, volunteering, etc. please feel free to address the meeting.

 

Noise at Carlisle Plant

Has the plant been noisier than usual? Some complaints about that.

Neighborhood Yard Sale June 2

The Bloomington Reformed Presbyterian Church (1st and Lincoln), is organizing a neighborhood yard sale for Sat. June 2. The church will buy an ad in the newspaper and take care of publicity. They are inviting anyone in the neighborhood who is interested to join in by selling their things at their homes. The church members are going to bring their items to the church parking lot where they will also sell drinks, popcorn, and snow cones. If you would like to participate, you would stop by the church that morning for a red balloon for your house.

We had neighborhood sale last fall, organized by Melissa Banks, and people that participated did really well. Thanks to Richard Holdeman, pastor of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, for reaching out to us with this offer. Please see the attached flyer for more information.

Contact the church at rpsecretary@gmail.com or 812-339-1922 for questions, or to let them know you would like to participate.

Please let me know if you'd like to add anything to the agenda.

Thanks,

Mary

BPNA monthly meeting, 3/27

MEETING AGENDA

Our monthly meeting will be this Tuesday, March 27. As usual, we'll meet at 7:00 p.m. at the Free Methodist Church on the corner of Grimes and S. Lincoln.

Not too much on the agenda, so far. We've set the block party date for August 24. I'd like to propose that we pay to have the tables and chairs delivered, rather than Jon picking them up and returning them with his truck. We have money in the bank account that could pay for this.

Several people have asked for an update on the Hillside and Henderson project. The developers have shared that it was too late to break ground in time for August occupancy, as they had hoped. They are waiting to start the project in the summer.

This would be a good time to talk about how to encourage more people to get involved with BPNA. We have almost 300 people on the email list, and I'm sure there are plenty of good ideas just waiting to be heard.

BPNA elections in 3 months, nominees needed

Hi neighbors,

After serving as BPNA president for the past three years, I've decided to step down when my term is up in June. It's been a great experience, and an honor to represent Bryan Park. We've just wrapped up several long-term projects, and it's a good time to hand it on to someone new. Elections are held at the June meeting, so we have some time. Please start thinking if you, or someone you know, would be interested in running.

The best part of the experience has been getting to know so many of you. This is truly a special place. I'll still be around and still be involved with BPNA. See you at a meeting!

Thanks,

Mary

BPNA Meeting Minutes, Feb 28th 2012

Bryan Park Association meeting

The monthly meeting of the Bryan Park Neighborhood Association meeting was held on February 28, 2012 with president Mary Miller presiding. [Mary Lou Mitchell acting Secretary]

Due to the fact that there was an IU ball game attendance was sparse with only 6 people.

• Mary touched on all subject listed in the agenda.
  
  
• Tonia Matthew reported on the raised bed gardens and passed out brochures.
  
  
• The growth policy and neighborhood tree program were both discussed.
  
  
• The new bridge at Bryan Park is in place but the walk up ramps haven’t been installed
  
  
• Meeting adjourned about 8:30 PM

BPNA Meeting Minutes, January 24th meeting

Bryan Park Neighborhood Association

January 24, 2012

Minutes

The Bryan Park Neighborhood Association met at the Free Methodist Church in Bloomington, Indiana, on January 24, 2012. Mary Miller, BPNA president, presided over the meeting.

1. Flooding. Mary Miller reported that the City Utilities Department finished the street work designed to prevent flooding and it seems to be working. She said there were no complaints after the recent heavy rains. Mary also reported that she contacted the Utilities Department about clearing debris from the Davis Street creek and the department plans to do the work immediately.

2. Proposed project at Hillside and Henderson. Mary Miller reported that the Board of Zoning Appeals met on December 15^thand approved the variances requested for the properties. She said the buildings on the properties were razed the day after the approval.

3. Switchyard property.Daryl Neher reported that the steering committee for the switchyard master plan met recently. The group plans for public input on the property in April with a design charette planned for May. The group plans to submit a final plan for the switchyard property to the City Council in September. Daryl reported that there are environmental issues on the property because of coal ash. The group is also discussing connecting Hillside through the switchyard for an east/west corridor.

4. City Council.Daryl Neher reported that his first meeting as a councilman will be tomorrow. The Council will discuss the condominium proposal for the old RCA property at Grimes and Morton Streets. Daryl said he will continue with monthly constituent meetings and plans to hold them at the public library.

5. GPP Steering Committee. Daryl Neher reported that the steering committee for the city’s Growth Policies Plan will be working for the next 3 months and wants input from neighborhoods. The revised plan will cover growth policies for the next 20 years.

6. Conservation District. Mary Miller reported that the sub-group working on the issue of conservation district status for the neighborhood has met several times and will pick up the work again soon.

7. Online bulletin board/Facebook page. A suggestion was made to create an online bulletin board for use by neighbors. Mary Miller said she will look into putting such a bulletin board on the BPNA website. Also, BPNA has a new Facebook page.

8. Treasury. Mary Lou Mitchell reported that BPNA has $1900 in its treasury account.

9. Next meeting. The next BPNA meeting is scheduled for February 28, 2012.

BPNA Monthly Meeting Tuesday 2/28

Our Feb. meting will be this Tuesday, Feb. 28. As usual, we'll meet at 7:00 p.m. at the Free Methodist Church on the corner of Grimes and S. Lincoln. Lots of nature-related topics this month–a sure sign that Spring is coming!

Clean Out of Davis Creek

The Utilities department was planning to clear out some of the debris in the creekbed of the Davis St. creek. Please speak up if you still see branches and debris blocking the flow of the creek.

Raised Vegetable Beds

Minifundia (www.minifundia.com) is a new company that installs and maintains raised bed vegetable gardens in Bloomington. This new business is in our neighborhood at 1121 S. Henderson St. Tonia Matthews has been in touch with the owner of Minifundia, and will speak about their services.

Pedestrian Bridge in Bryan Park

The city is waiting for ground conditions in Bryan Park to dry out enough to get a crane in, in order to install the pedestrian bridge across the creekbed. The crane operator does not want to take his equipment into the area until the ground dries up quite a bit.

Neighborhood Tree Program

The City of Bloomington’s Housing and Neighborhood Development Department (HAND) and Parks Department are partnering to offer trees to our neighborhoods in an effort to increase the number and quality of street trees. HAND is expanding the 2012 Neighborhood Improvement Grant program this year to provide a means for neighborhoods to replenish trees in the public right-of-way.

The trees will be planted in the City-owned right-of-way not on private property. Areas to be considered include unimproved areas that do not conflict with other public utilities or improvements along public streets, roads or alleys.

BPNA can apply for one of these grants, if we can get some volunteer support from our BPNA members to write it.

ImagineBloomington

As you may know, the City of Bloomington is in the initial stages of revising its Growth Policies Plan. In an effort to maximize citizen engagement in the process, Mayor Kruzan has announced a series of public workshops for residents to attend. The GPP serves as a guiding document for how we plan for the future of Bloomington. If you would like to review the current GPP, you may find the document at http://bloomington.in.gov/gpp.

The first meeting was Tuesday, February 21st at the Monroe County Library. Darryl Neher says there are nine more meetings, and suggested that we all get involved in Bloomington's long-term planning process.

Conservation District

We are ready to start gathering signatures for our application letter, in order to get the process underway.

Let me know if you'd like to add anything to the agenda.

Thanks,

Mary