Neighborhood News

Home Tour Update

COOKIE HOUSE
The Cookie House did a brisk business during the December home tour, selling out a few hours before the Sunday tour was over. Thanks to all the bakers who contributed everything from chocolate-chip cookies (how can you go wrong?) to rocky-road confections. A big hit was a tray of chocolate chip-bacon cookies -- once visitors got wind of those, they sold out quickly!

There are plans underway to give the booth a makeover -- perhaps a new look, definitely a new way of displaying its wares. Look for the changes in December. Better yet, volunteer to work in the booth and experience the changes first hand.

Sound Wall Under Way

From ADOT:
Wall painting scheduled next week near I-10 and 7th Avenue
At the sound wall location near downtown Phoenix, crews will paint the residential side of the wall on Moreland Street between 7th and 11th avenues Monday (Jan. 16) through Friday (Jan. 20). Local residents should expect painters on site from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. No parking will be permitted on Moreland Street during work hours.

Notes from Our President

A few updates from around the neighborhood:
Dave Stanton has volunteered to be our resource on historic preservation issues, advising neighbors on the legalities and appropriateness of renovations and additions, and in working with the Historic Preservation Office. Hell also be writing regular articles on HP issues for Storytime and our website. Our purpose is to preserve the historic fabric, and livability, of our distinctive neighborhood.
Louisa Stark continues to work on alley beautification issues; her current mural project (see below) is a first step in encouraging us all to take responsibility for our alleys: clean up trash and weeds, perhaps do a bit of (hardy) planting, make the alley more of an amenity than an eyesore. In passing – weve had a few alley fires (dumpsters, weeds), either accidental or deliberate, of late. The more trash and high, dry weeds the alley contains, the more chance for a fire to spread to a fence, garage or home. Clean-up and maintenance is a safety issue, not just an aesthetic one.
Louisa and Steve Dreiseszun will work on a variety of zoning, variance and permit issues, and will coordinate with other historic neighborhood and local organizations.
Pat is doing a great job on our website. Check out the Events page (lots of venues added); the Steering Committee page (member contact info and bios, agenda for next meeting); Calendar (we've set dates for the next year's major neighborhood activities); Dave's article in House and Garden; Visual Awards; and the ADOT I-10 traffic cam link. To Come: more oral histories from early residents, and an extensive history of the neighborhood (on the History page), and ongoing updates on our next home tour.
Were also working up a program to keep a better eye on vacant houses, to help deter vandalism and other deterioration. More to come!
-Bob Croft

Alley Art

Last July, Story was awarded a Block Watch Grant from the City of Phoenix that included a rather unusual project – a series of murals which would be painted on the alley walls of four homes in the neighborhood. In our original application we proposed that the presence of murals in the alleys would cut down on crime and blight. They would show that we care about the condition of our alleys. And that having the murals painted by students from local schools might help deter graffiti and vandalism.
The first mural was recently installed on the wall behind Noreen and Steve Baldwins home in the 900 block of West Culver. Seventh and eighth grade students from Ryan Williams classes in the Phoenix Elementary School Districts ALPS Pro- gram participated in the project. The students from each of eight art classes designed and painted the six separate panels. The themes that they chose depict a range of subjects including Native American culture, local wildlife, and neighborhood scenes.
Thus far the murals have been welcomed by neighbors, praised by local sanitation workers and even by an occasional “trash recycler”! Three more murals will be designed and painted next fall when the weather cools down. We anticipate that they will be designed and painted by students from Kenilworth, Capitol and Franklin schools.
-Louisa Stark

Book Club

Books and meeting info for next 6 meetings:

Turn of Mind, Mon, Feb 20
Book: Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante
Host: Sheila has chosen this book and Danielle has offered to host
Address: 910 W. Moreland Street
Time: 6:30 p.m.

Three Men in a Boat, Mon, March 19
Book: Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome
Host: KC (Karen)
Address: Regency House, 2323 N. Central #201, social room
Time: 6:30 p.m.

The Lacuna: A Novel, Mon, April 30
Book: The Lacuna: A Novel by Barbara Kingsolver
Host: Anne (Stone)
Address: 64 W Holly Street
Time: 6:30 p.m.

East of Eden, Mon, June 18
Book: East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Host: Danielle
Address: 910 W. Moreland Street
Time: 6:30 p.m.

People of the Book, Mon, July 30
Book: People of the Book: A Novel by Geraldine Brooks
Host: Shari
Address: 1145 W. Lynwood
Time: 6:30 p.m.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Mon, Sept 10
Book: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Host: Carol
Address: 10 W. Georgia Ave. #30
Time: 6:30 p.m.

For more info contact Patricia Sahertian
http://fqstorybc.blogspot.com/

Visual Award-February

Mario Romero and Lewis Penrose have been tending to their lush green yard for nearly three decades.
And although the property gets a makeover every five or six years, there are telltale signs it’s showing its age.
Shrubs and trees tower over the roofline, a testament to the years of growth and the careful hand that’s been guiding the landscaping since 1982.
A particular favorite is an oleander tree in the middle of the yard. It dates from 1983 -- the year after the couple moved in -- and has been shaped and pruned to perfection over the years.
Low-lying plantings line the beds in front of the Tudor home, adding to the curb appeal of this month’s Visual Award winner. And Romero and Penrose should know something about curb appeal: they both work in real estate. Stop by their home at 1106 W. Portland to admire February’s award winner.