Woodbine Neighborhood Association

Hi Woodbiners! It’s our last Woodbine Neighborhood Association get-together until August, so we hope you’ll make it! The WNA won’t meet in June and July, but we’ll still see each other at the Woodbine Farmers’ Market each Saturday. Speaking of the farmers’ market, WNA Vice-President/Woodbine Farmers’ Market manager Mary Crimmins will talk to us at the meeting about the Woodbine Farmers’ Market vision, as well as upcoming events and volunteer activities. And since we’ll be talking about food, let’s make this meeting a potluck, too!

Also, for those interested in the many projects we’ve set as goals–neighborhood house concerts, progressive dinners and potlucks, helping Whitsitt School, as well as long-term goals of marking the boundaries of Woodbine, a band shell at Coleman Park, etc.—we’ll exchange contact info while noshing and firm up our committees so that over the summer we can continue to work toward those goals. Let’s make it happen!

See you Monday night!

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WOODBINE SPRING CLEAN IS THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 9th!!! Here’s the info: http://www.woodbineneighborhoodassociation.com/woodbine-neighborhood-and-whitsitt-elementary-school-spring-clean/ We’ll meet at 9 AM SHARP at The Woodbine Community Center at 222 Oriel Avenue and I’ll have coffee waiting. I scored more kiddo t-shirts this year, so bring those kids!

Our next meeting is Monday April 18^th at 6 pm at Coleman Park Community Center. This is the follow-up to our earlier Traffic Calming meeting to give representatives from the Metro Nashville Police Department, the Highway Patrol, Public Works, Traffic Calming, and the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods an opportunity to update residents of Woodbine on the progress made so far regarding their traffic calming and safety concerns. If you have concerns that are still not being addressed, or new concerns, related to speeding/ safety/ sidewalks, etc. please make sure you attend this meeting. It’s important to be heard! I heard from Matt Lott, the engineer who did the sidewalk study, and although they do not know when, sidewalks from Glenrose to Peachtree, then Whitsett to Coleman Park, plus repairs of existing sidewalks on Foster, are in the plans. The speed limit on Foster from Glenrose to Whitsett is now 30 mph, clear stop bars have been painted at intersections that have trouble with roll-throughs, and “No Trucks” signs have been made clearer and are consistent throughout the neighborhood now. (This enables the police officers to write tickets without having to weigh the trucks.)

Speaking of cleaning up the neighborhood, here’s an article from yesterday’s Tennessean about a bill introduced by our state representative Janis Sontany and supported by our council representative Anna Page that aims to address seriously overgrown lots: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110404/NEWS0202/104040331/Bill-targets-tall-grass-overgrown-lots?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Community Projects/ Subcommittees: If you’d like your name, email, and telephone number included in a small directory for the WNA Board members and other committee members/ project organizers to utilize, please email woodbineneighborhoodassociation@yahoo.com with that information and include your area(s) of interest. THIS INFORMATION WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED ONLINE. Click here for all of the areas of interest and great ideas you’ve had so far. http://www.woodbineneighborhoodassociation.com/february-meeting-minutesmarch-newsletter/ Let’s get cracking!

Thanks for your feedback on proposed Metro Council redistricting plans from the Metro Planning Commission. First of all, let us say that the day after you were asked for your feedback on the proposed redistricting plans (A and B), Plan C was released and many people seem to be happy with this plan. That said, about 30 people responded to the initial email, and while the majority chose Plan A, the results were close. This was by no means a scientific survey, but your comments told us a lot about the issues that are important to you: business development on Nolensville Road (coffee shops, restaurants, pubs, boutiques, art galleries, etc.), affordable home prices in our neighborhood so that its character and diversity are preserved, good schools, and neighborhood recognition. You can see a map of Plan C here: http://www.nashville.gov/mpc/docs/redist/rec/Coun16.pdf

At our last meeting we were lucky enough to have former police chief Emmett Turner present to help us plan our clean-up, and Sherry Sloan was also present to talk to us about recycling/ composting/ and the local convenience centers (dumps). Here’s a link to Metro’s beautification page with more info than you even thought existed on those topics: http://www.nashville.gov/beautification/

Last but not least, last weekend one neighbor quietly helped another by painting over graffiti on her garage. While this good samaritan would like to remain anonymous, it’s a great example of community. Remember Dr. Margaret Mead’s famous quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

See you Saturday, Woodbiners!

Tamara, Mary, Tony, Jane, Toby, David and Tom

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Alright lovely Woodbiners, it’s that time of year again, when neighbors all over America join the Great American Clean-up from March til May. You’ve voted on the time and date, so let’s do this! We’ll spruce up our neighborhood and our very own Whitsitt Elementary and make them shine!

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Wow, Woodbine, what a GREAT meeting tonight! Thank you!!!

First of all, thank you to Roxie Ross, the Principal at Whitsitt Elementary, for coming out tonight and speaking with us. Whitsitt and the WNA are going to make a great team.

Thanks also to Tiffany Patton of Big Brothers/ Big Sisters of Tennessee for attending and for sharing more about the BB/BS program. Their website is www.mentorakid.org

Thanks also to the fine folks at Ginger Thai Restaurant for bringing so much wonderful food for everyone to try. And speaking of Ginger, it’s official: the Taste of Woodbine restaurant discounts are back. Throughout the month of March, all Woodbine Neighborhood Association members get 10% off of their meals at Ginger, House of Kabob, La Hacienda and Istanbul restaurants. Make sure you show your WNA membership card!

Committees

The committees seem to be forming naturally, and everyone came up with so many exciting ideas, I wanted to at least go ahead and list a few of them. Remember—each committee listed ideas that were small/ easily doable, huge (dream big!), and then ideas that could be accomplished by or during summer.  I’m just going to mix them up, you’ll get the idea!

1. Woodbine Gets Fresh!

*Flyers with recipes from the different cultures represented in Woodbine,  that use seasonal food sold at the Woodbine Farmers’ Market.

*Woodbine Veggie Roast (using food we buy at the farmers’ market or grow ourselves)

*Mexican Restaurant Crawl

* 5K race to benefit both Whitsitt School and the Woodbine Farmers’ Market (with a Kids’ 1 mile race)

*Alternate energy sources, booth selling veggies grown in the neighborhood at the market, becoming a sustainable neighborhood with multiple community gardens

2. Woodbine Loves Whitsitt

*Visiting the school

*Community garden on school grounds

*Mentoring

*Landscaping

*Litter patrol

3. Taste of Woodbine/ Sounds of Woodbine

*Write reviews about our local restaurants on Yelp, Urban Spoon, and Citysearch (websites) and also post them on the Woodbine Neighborhood Association website

*House concerts featuring local musicians and cuisine from local restaurants

*Woodbine musician showcases at local restaurants

*Harvest potluck with music

*An hour of music at each Woodbine Farmers’ Market

*Progressive dinner party (each course at a different home)

4. Parents of Woodbine

*Be involved with current family programs already offered at Coleman Community Center

*Directory of families for local play dates, etc.

*Safer neighborhood for children to walk and play

*Exercise Co-op

*Sidewalks, more streetlights, and enforcement of sidewalk parking

*Mothers’ Day Out program

*Play dates

5. Faces of Woodbine

*Welcome the neighbors on your block

*Welcoming gifts and brochures printed in multiple languages

*More languages on website

*Bumper stickers in different languages, such as  ” _________ __ Woodbine”

*Multi-cultural Day at the Woodbine Farmers’ Market (using free publicity and making sure kids at Whitsitt School are invited and involved)

*Welcome to Woodbine/ Woodbine Neighborhood Association booth at Woodbine Farmers’ Market

*Promoting the values of communication, language, learning, and courtesy

6. Woodbine is Beautiful

*Quarterly neighborhood clean-up days

*Expanding the boundaries of Woodbine

*Graffiti removal teams/Education of how to properly report and remove graffiti

*Contacting local landscapers for discounts/ donations

*Permanent Woodbine neighborhood markers

*Continued flood clean-up

*Sidewalks!

*Mini-parks

*Covered/ improved bus stops

*More green space/ playgrounds

*Bike lanes

*Pedestrian bridge making Nolensville Road and Thompson Lane more pedestrian friendly

*Planting and mulching days

*Beautification awards

*Table with beautification info at Woodbine Farmers’ Market

Here’s a look at upcoming meetings and events…

March 21st: Beautification and detailed info and planning for the WOODBINE SPRING CLEAN

(neighborhood clean-up will be either April or May, as part of the Great American Clean-Up)

April 18th: Traffic calming update and status report

May 16th: Woodbine Farmers’ Market vision and community yard sale planning (yard sale will be in June or July)

June and July: We rest and enjoy the summer and the farmers’ market!

August 15th: TBA

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1. Since several Woodbiners suggested we help Whitsitt Elementary school kids, the idea has blossomed into a great opportunity for all kinds of ways to help. To that end, Roxie Ross (the principal at Whitsitt Elementary) is coming to the meeting Monday as well as a representative from Big Brothers/ Big Sisters of Tennessee and a  representative from LEAD Academy. David Morales (WNA board member) and I met earlier this week with all of the above  to discuss the possibilities, and we’re happy to have them join us at Monday’s meeting so those interested in forming a committee to “adopt” Whitsitt Elementary can get more info about what is needed. There are endless ways we can help!

2. If you’d like, bring something easy to eat and clean up to Monday night’s meeting. We’ll be breaking off into groups again, just like we did in September, and it will be more of a cozy, relaxed meeting. Food would make it even cozier. We’ll provide plates, napkins, etc. The ladies at Ginger Thai restaurant mentioned coming to our meeting with samples of their wonderful food–keep your fingers crossed.

3. It’s looking like we’ll have another Taste of Woodbine restaurant discount again for March. More info to come. If you haven’t yet purchased your WNA membership, you can do so Monday night. It’s only $10 per year per household. Unfortunately, we can no longer accept checks.

4. This meeting is most definitely kid-friendly.

Thanks everyone! See you Monday the 28th at 6 pm!!!

Tamara, Mary, Jane, Toby, David, Tony

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*First: An update on Woodbine Neighborhood Association’s Traffic Calming meeting last month:

Representatives of the Metro Nashville Police Department, Department of Safety, the Highway Patrol, Billy Fields of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods were present as well as Benny Word and Ali Afis from traffic calming. They’ve put in a request for Matt Locke of the engineering
department to look at our request for sidewalks on Foster between Glenrose and
Thompson Lane, as well as a request to lower the speed limit on Foster between Glenrose and Whitsett from 35 mph to 30 mph. The traffic calming study we requested showed the
average speed on that stretch to be 39, so the sidewalk and lowered speed limit
requests go hand in hand as part of what we hope to be an ongoing traffic calming
project. Our understanding is that there are separate engineering studies completed or in process on both projects.  Other changes will include painted “stop bars” at stop signs to help
with the problem of folks running stop signs, and a joint effort of the traffic
calming folks, the Department of Safety, the MNPD, and the Highway Patrol to
enforce the ban on/ find new ways to stop the tractor trailer truck traffic in
our neighborhood. These are all mildly invasive, and more invasive steps may be
taken if necessary.  Also, as you could see if you were on Foster Avenue on January 28th, the first joint operation between the highway patrol and the MNPD occurred on that date and LOTS of truckers
and speeders learned that this is a neighborhood, not a commercial thoroughfare!
Way to go Woodbine–you spoke up and were heard!

*Second: It’s progress report/ committee-forming time!

Our next meeting is on Monday, February 28^th at 6 pm at Coleman Park Community Center. It’s time to discuss our progress toward the goals you yourselves, as residents of Woodbine, set at our first meeting’s brainstorming session, then to more seriously begin to form the committees that will operate within the WNA to get moving toward these goals. (It really does take a village!)

The areas you’ve already expressed that are in need of committees are as follows, with loose/ catch-all  descriptions and the names of those who have at some point expressed interest beside each one (don’t feel obligated, this is just a neighborly nudge, ya’ll):

1)      Parents of Woodbine: playground, park, trees at park, meals for new parents, play dates, library/ zoo neighborhood field trips, ongoing support of Whitsitt Elementary School, etc. (Tosha B.)

2)      Sounds of Woodbine: coordinating (acoustic) neighborhood house concerts and other neighborhood concerts, looking toward the future regarding the neighborhood’s goal for a band shell at the park, etc. (Daniel M., Jason G., Lex P.)

3)      Taste of Woodbine: ongoing discounts at neighborhood restaurants, neighborhood potlucks, multicultural food sharing events, etc. (Himmakone C., Jennifer B., Cindy M.)

4)      Woodbine is Beautiful:  coordinating regular neighborhood clean-ups, tree planting where available (crossover with Parents of Woodbine in this regard), art projects, and the long-term goal of Woodbine neighborhood markers. (Mary C., Tamara P., Jane H., Lex P.)

5)      Woodbine Gets Fresh: all things Woodbine Farmers’ Market and garden related. (Jennifer B., Chris M., Mary C., Tamara P.)

6)      Faces of Woodbine: preserving and showcasing Woodbine’s unique cultural diversity, language courses, involvement with NICE and TIRRC, etc. (David M., Mayra Y.)

*Third: Here’s a look at upcoming meetings and events…

March: Beautification and the Woodbine Spring Clean (neighborhood clean-up will be either April or May, as part of the Great American Clean-Up)

April: Traffic calming update and status report

May: Woodbine Farmers’ Market vision and community yard sale planning (yard sale will be in June or July)

On the books: Several local groups have asked to be involved with Woodbine’s children and Whitsitt and Cameron schools, including LEAD Academy, Big Brothers/ Big Sisters, and honors students at Lipscomb University. These are all in the planning stages but we are VERY excited about the possibilities and look forward to working with them.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead

*Primero: actualización sobre la junta de la Asociación del Barrio de Woodbine sobre mitigación del tráfico el mes pasado:

Estuvieron presentes representantes del Departamento de Policía Metropolitana de Nashville; el Departamento de Seguridad; la Patrulla de Caminos; Billy Fields, de la Oficina de Barrios de la Alcaldía, así como Benny Word y Ali Afis, de mitigación de tráfico. Ellos han presentado una solicitud para que Matt Locke, del departamento de ingeniería, evalúe nuestra solicitud de aceras en la avenida Foster, entre Glenrose y Thompson Lane, así como una solicitud para reducir el límite de velocidad en Foster entre Glenrose y Whitsett, de 35 MPH a 30 MPH. El estudio de mitigación de tráfico que solicitamos mostró que el promedio de velocidad en dicho tramo es de 39 MPH, de modo que las aceras y la reducción del límite de velocidad van de la mano como parte de lo que esperamos sea una proyecto continuo de mitigación del tráfico. Según lo que entendemos, se están llevando a cabo o se han completado estudios de ingeniería separados para ambos proyectos.  Otros cambios incluirían “barras de parada” pintadas en los puntos donde hay señales de alto, para ayudar con el problema de que la gente no hace parada completa en ellos, así como un esfuerzo conjunto entre la gente de mitigación de tráfico, el Departamento de Seguridad, la Policía Metropolitana y la Patrulla de Caminos para hacer cumplir la prohibición de tráfico de trailers en nuestro barrio, así como encontrar nuevas maneras de detenerlo. Éstas son ligeramente invasivas, y se podrían tomar medidas más invasivas de ser necesario.  Además, como ustedes pudieron ver si estuvieron en la avenida Foster el 28 de enero, se llevó a cabo la primera operación conjunta entre la patrulla de caminos y el departamento de policía metropolitana en dicha fecha, y MUCHOS camioneros e infractores del límite de velocidad aprendieron que éste es un barrio, ¡no una vía comercial! Buen trabajo, Woodbine: ¡hablamos, y nos escucharon!

*Segundo: ¡Es tiempo de reportar avances y formar comités!

Nuestra siguiente junta será el lunes 28 de febrero a las 6 PM en el Centro Comunitario del Parque Coleman. Es tiempo de hablar sobre nuestro progreso en el cumplimiento de las metas que ustedes mismos, como residentes de Woodbine, establecieron durante la sesión de intercambio de ideas de nuestra primera junta, y de comenzar a formar, con mayor seriedad, los comités que operarán dentro de la Asociación del Barrio de Woodbine para comenzar a trabajar en el logro de estas metas. (¡De verdad se necesita del trabajo de todos!)

Las áreas en las que ustedes han expresado que se necesitan comités son las siguientes, dándose descripciones generales/genéricas, e indicándose a un lado los nombres de aquellos que, en algún momento, han expresado interés (no se sientan obligados, simplemente es un empujoncito):

1)      Padres de Woodbine: patio de juegos, parque, árboles en el parque, comidas para nuevos padres, citas de juego, excursiones del barrio a la biblioteca y el zoológico, apoyo continuo para la escuela primaria Whitsitt, etc. (Tosha B.)

2)      Sonidos de Woodbine: coordinación de conciertos (acústicos) caseros y otros conciertos en el barrio, ver el futuro acerca de la meta de los vecinos de tener un foro para bandas en el parque, etc. (Daniel M., Jason G., Lex P.)

3)      Sabor de Woodbine: descuentos continuos en restaurantes de la zona, convivios de vecinos, eventos multiculturales, etc. (Himmakone C., Jennifer B., Cindy M.)

4)      Woodbine es precioso: coordinación de limpiezas regulares del barrio, siembra de árboles donde sea posible (combinado con Padres de Woodbine), proyectos de arte y la meta de largo plazo de marcadores del barrio de Woodbine. (Mary C., Tamara P., Jane H., Lex P.)

5)      Woodbine fresco: todo lo relacionado con el Mercado de Woodbine y jardinería. (Jennifer B., Chris M., Mary C., Tamara P.)

6)      Rostros de Woodbine: preservación y exhibición de la diversidad cultural exclusiva de Woodbine, cursos de idiomas, participación con NICE y TIRRC, etc. (David M., Mayra Y.)

*Tercero: Éste es un vistazo de las juntas y eventos por venir…

Marzo: embellecimiento y limpieza de primavera de Woodbine (la limpieza del barrio será en abril o mayo, como parte de la Gran Limpieza Estadounidense)

Abril: actualización e informe sobre la mitigación del tráfico

Mayo: Visión del Mercado de Woodbine y planificación de la venta de jardín comunitaria (la venta será en junio o julio)

En proceso: Varios grupos locales han pedido participar con los niños de Woodbine y las escuelas Whitsitt y Cameron, incluyendo la academia LEAD, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, y estudiantes de honor de la Universidad Lipscomb. Todos estos están en la etapa de planificación, pero estamos muy emocionados por las posibilidades y estamos a la espera de poder trabajar con ellos.

“Nunca dudes que un pequeño grupo de ciudadanos atentos y comprometidos pueda cambiar el mundo. De hecho, ellos son los únicos que lo han hecho.” -Margaret Mead

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6:00 P.M. THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2011 @ COLEMAN PARK COMMUNITY CENTER

Our lovely neighborhood has had a rapid and progressive growth spurt and is now largely made up of residents who actively bike and walk, and who have children who do the same. Although Foster has now been designated a bicycle route, we’re left scratching our heads since there is no safe way to walk or bike on Foster due to a lack of sidewalks and tractor trailer trucks speeding back and forth. Due to Foster, Glenrose and Peachtree being handy shortcuts, speeding is a huge problem as well. If we work together, we can come up with a lasting solution that will address these issues.

What are your traffic/ speeding concerns? Prior to the meeting, please send an email to woodbineneighborhoodassociation@yahoo.com with your concerns related to traffic, speeding, trucks, etc., and put in the subject line TRAFFIC CALMING. We’ll present your concerns to representatives from the Department of Safety, Highway Patrol, MNPD, Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods, and others at the meeting.

We can do this, Woodbine!!!
Tamara, Mary, Tony, Toby, Jane, David and Tom

6:00 P.M. LUNES, 10 ENERO 2011, EN EL CENTRO COMUNITARIO DE COLEMAN PARK

Nuestro vecindario está creciendo cada día más y ahora se compone de residentes a quienes les gustan caminar y andar en bicicleta, y que tienen hijos que hacen lo mismo. Aunque la avenida Foster ha sido designada como ruta para bicicletas, nos quedamos confundidos ya que no hay ninguna manera segura de caminar ni andar en bicicleta en la calle por la falta de veredas y por los camiones grandes que pasan sin cesar, superando el límite de velocidad. Además, muchos utilizan a Foster, Glenrose y Peachtree como atajos en su ruta diaria y resulta problemático allí también el pasar el límite de velocidad. Si colaboramos, podemos encontrar una solución para enfrentar estos problemas.

¿Cuáles son las preocupaciones que tiene usted en cuanto al transito y el límite de velocidad? Antes de la reunión, favor de mandar un correo electrónico a woodbineneighborhoodassociation@yahoo.com detallando cualquier preocupación con relación al tránsito, el límite de velocidad, los camiones grandes, etc., y darle como sujeto “TRAFFIC CALMING” (o sea, tranquilizar el tránsito). Presentaremos sus preocupaciones de forma anónima en la reunión el lunes.

¡Juntos podemos, Woodbine!
Tamara, Mary, Tony, Toby, Jane, David y Tom

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If you live in Woodbine (or are Woodbine-friendly): Instead of the normal meeting this month, come mingle with your neighbors, share your favorite recipe, and meet your local and state representatives–a cozy way to start a hectic holiday week!

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In the continuing spirit of “you asked for it, you got it”, we’re having a neighborhood potluck so that we can truly have a Taste of Woodbine! We’re also pleased to have Council Member Anna Page, State Representative Janis Sontany, and Congressman Jim Cooper attending. So if you haven’t yet met your local elected officials, here’s your chance to mingle and get to know them while noshing with your neighbors.

Monday, December 13th – 6:00pm at the Coleman Park Community Center

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