November Neighborhood Meeting Held at Senior Center

November Meeting Well Attended with Many Guests & Much Information Shared

November 12th was the first quarterly meeting to be held at the Washington Park Senior Center. The additional space offered room for more neighbors to attend and attendance of about 40+ was good for our first meeting. The Steering Committee noted a few changes for the room set up to make it more comfortable for future meetings.

We had a number of important guests at the meeting including Alderman Michael Murphy, Chairman of the MPS School Board, Peter Blewett and Chairman of the County Board and our Supervisor, Lee Hollaway. Budget issues and reasoning behind certain decisions were discussed by all three guests. A complete review of the meeting can be read in the Minutes which are found on our website, www.martindrive.org.

Another highlight of the meeting included an opportunity for everyone to pick up the 110 Halloween photos that had been printed and framed and donated by a generous neighbor who wants to remain anonomous.

Maggie Blaha, the Martin Drive Agenda Setter always ends the meeting with the question, “What is the best part of living in the MDN?” Responses included, quality neighbors, near great park. One neighbor said he liked that it was a neighborhood where people really came together and watched out for the neighborhood.

Martin Drive Neighborhood, October-November Renovations Noted!

Keep Up the Good Work on Your Homes

As you can see, the Martin Drive Neighborhood likes signs. Neighborhood meetings occur monthly on the second Monday of every month. We have met for about 17 years at 1219 N. 43rd Street and at the Senior Center for our May Annual Meeting. Early on, we made signs for each block, and had block watch captains put out the sign to remind everyone to come to our meetings.

And now we are blessed with the ability to hold quarterly meetings at the Washington Park Senior Center. We feel this will increase attendance and offer more fresh and new faces to the mix. We had heard from some neighbors that they felt uncomfortable coming to someone’s home for fear that they would be the only new person. (And let me put that notion to rest. As long as we have been doing this, everyone is welcome, and there are always warm, fresh home-made cookies. )

Since the November meeting was our first at the Senior Center, I was careful to make sure every block had a sign. So on Sunday, I set out putting up signs and was very surprised by the number of houses which had started major exterior renovations. I captured two new roof projects, one on 42nd Street and one on Martin Drive. Another house on 44th Street is being sided and the porch is about to be restored. I also noted another major porch renovation on 46th Street. Thank you to the neighbors who are putting investment back into this neighborhood. I'll be back to take some "after" photos to show.