Bryan Park Neighborhood Block Party, Friday, Aug. 20

BLOCK PARTY

Our annual block party is this Friday, Aug. 20, from 6-9 p.m., in the 1000 block of S. Palmer (between Davis and Allen). Join new and old neighbors in a new location to celebrate the end of summer.

SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS

Enjoy the sounds of local band Craig Brenner & Friends (www.craigbrenner.com). They will play blues, jazz and boogie woogie for dancing in the street. Also, our neighbor Joe Lee will perform his Cirque du Jolais clown performance for the kids.

Nick's English Hut is graciously providing Nick's Burgers, their new Black Bean Burgers and hotdogs for the grill. BPNA will supply drinks, condiments, plates and plasticware. Neighborhood history books, as well as t-shirts and chef's aprons will be for sale.

Bring a favorite side dish to share. If you are able, please bring your $5 yearly membership dues. Pass the word to your neighbors!

Funding provided in part through the City of Bloomington's Housing and Neighborhood Improvement Grant program.

Special thanks to Nick's English Hut!

Nick’s English Hut would be proud to be known as your core neighborhood restaurant/bar. We established ourselves in 1927 and have been growing to meet the needs of our customers ever since.

Lots of our customers know us for our large selection of local foods, great salads, homemade soups, strombolis and pizza. Others come for our fresh salmon baked to perfection in our cast iron skillet or our famous Nick’s Burgers. Then there is the after 10 pm crowd who come in to play ‘Sink the Biz’ or enjoy our libations.

Look for managing owner and dedicated chef Gregg Rago and his wife Susan Bright walking their dogs in the Bryan Park neighborhood, or look for them at Nick’s where they spend their time making ‘the Hut’ a better place to patronize.

We look forward sharing our Nick’s Burgers and recently created Black Bean Burgers at the picnic on August 20. If you can’t make the picnic be sure to walk or ride your bike to your neighborhood place to eat and drink! We are located at 423 E. Kirkwood Ave. You can reach us at 332-4040.

Backyard Habitat Class this Sat.

From Ria Collee:

Vicky Getty, a Bloomington Wildlife Habitat Board member, will be offering a presentation "Backyard Habitat, Yes you Can!" at Bloomington Valley Nursery, 5230 South Old State Road 37 this Sat. Aug. 7, from 10am to 11:30am. Participants will receive a wildflower plant and hand-outs. Cost is $10. More information on the attached flyer.

Home security tip from Mary Lou Mitchell, BPNA Neighborhood Watch

Here's a simple no cost way to increase your home security. Put your car keys beside your bed at night.

If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies. 
This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this:




It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it.

It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain.

It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar won't stick around.

After a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that.

And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

This would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone. My Mom has suggested to my Dad that he carry his car keys with him in case he falls outside and she doesn't hear him. He can activate the car alarm and then she'll know there's a problem.

City Council Member Piedmont-Smith to Host Constituent Meeting

Dear all,

Once again I will hold my monthly constituent meeting: This Saturday, July 31, 11 am to 12 noon at Rachael's Cafe. I hope to see some of you there!

Best wishes,

Isabel

Isabel Piedmont-Smith

City Council Representative, District 5

City Council Member Piedmont-Smith to Host Constituent Meeting

This Saturday, Bloomington City Council member Isabel Piedmont-Smith will once again hold her monthly constituent meeting, 11:00 am to 12:00 noon at Rachael’s Café, 300 E. 3rd St . The District 5 representative and current council president holds these informal monthly meetings to provide an update on city issues and a forum for constituent concerns. Rachael’s Café is a locally owned business, located at the corner of 3rd St. and Lincoln St .

“During my July meeting, I will review recent issues before the Council, including the annual budget presentations by city departments,” said Piedmont-Smith. “As always, I will open up the meeting for attendees to discuss topics related to city government that are on their minds.”

Piedmont-Smith encourages all Bloomington residents, not just those in District 5, to join her for this Saturday meeting. Free coffee will be available, and Rachael’s Café serves breakfast and lunch for those interested in combining a meal with the meeting.

Piedmont hosts constituent meetings at Rachael’s Café on the last Saturday of every month at 11 am. More information about Councilmember Piedmont-Smith is available on her website, www.PiedmontForCouncil.org.

BPNA Meeting Tues. July 27, 2010

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

AGENDA

Stormwater Runoff

Continue our discussion of the stormwater issue. Report on new Google group for stormwater ideas and concerns.

Conservation District

To further our understanding of the conservation district issue, we'll begin with a discussion about current city zoning policies, and talk about how a conservation district works. We need people to get involved in a subcommittee to study the question of applying for a conservation district for the neighborhood. Please let Mary know if you are interested in serving on this committee.

Neighborhood Improvement Grant

The city's Neighborhood Improvement Grant process is about to begin. We need ideas for projects that will improve the Bryan Park neighborhood. We'll need to apply by 9/24 in order to be considered for one of the grants. You can see past neighborhood grant projects on the city's Web site.

Neighborhood Block Party

Update on plans for the annual block party.

Food vending in Bryan Park

A brief discussion about food vending in Bryan Park.

Atwater and Henderson intersection

According to the Herald-Times, city officials have announced that improvements to this intersection have been pushed back a year.

Incident Report

Regular monthly report from Dick and Mary Lou Mitchell, our Neighborhood Watch representatives. One item of note is a report of a theft at the Bryan Park pool. An Eastside Neighborhood Association member reported that her bag was stolen while she was in the pool. She recommends that pool users check items of value in the the mesh bags available for this purpose inside the bathhouse.

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