Greentrees Civic Association

April 2002 Newsletter

Sep 05, 2007

Editors: Ted & Angie Yeise

THE 8TH ANNUAL GARDEN TOUR

Get ready, get set, let?’s get out and see just how beautiful Greentrees is. We are so fortunate to have so many beautiful yards right in our own neighborhood. The Garden Tour Committee is working hard to make the 8th Annual Greentrees Garden Tour a great success. If you have never been to our tour, this year is a must. Be sure to mark your calendar May 4th (first Saturday in May), is the day, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. is the time. As usual our tour will be promoted in The Commercial Appeal, and we hope bring in visitors from all over the Mid-South. At last year?’s tour we had over 500 visitors and look forward to even more this year. If people from outside Greentrees are coming into our neighborhood, don?’t you think you need to see just what makes your neighborhood so special? Are you a little curious to see just what is behind the fence? Well, now is the opportunity to come and see. We look forward to seeing lots of Greentrees neighbors.

SPRING IS SPRUCE-UP TIME

With the Garden Tour almost here, it is time to take advantage of the warm days and start helping Greentrees come to life. Spring helps get everyone motivated to give their yards and homes a little clean-up. All of Greentrees is working so hard to promote the beautification of our neighborhood, so please remind your yard crew to remove grass clippings and any limbs. Please do not leave them on the curb, especially the weekend of the tour. We understand that the City Sanitation Service runs on Mondays, however any yard debris removed during the week after the Monday pick-up will just sit, so help out by either doing the yard work prior to Monday, April29th, or wait to put the debris out on Sunday, May 5th. All of the homeowners and volunteers are working so hard to be ready for the tour and would greatly appreciate any help they can get. This is a wonderful opportunity for Greentrees to show off, and just why we are proud to be Greentrees residents. If you have any questions regarding the tour please call Angie Yeiser at 753-2414, or Norma Smith at 755-1427. Your help is needed and appreciated.


SPOTLIGHT A NEIGHBOR!

It is amazing how many talented residents Greentrees has. Several years ago our Garden Tour Committee invited local Greentrees Artists to exhibit their work at one of the gardens on the tour. Many artists participated. However, one deserves special recognition. As you probably read in the previous newsletter, the Civic Association recently commissioned MaryJon Hardin Herr to paint a picture of Kirby Parkway to give to our outgoing president, Bonnie Ragland, as a gift to express our sincere thanks for all of her hard work. In this edition we want to shine the spotlight on MaryJon and her husband Art, two very accomplished and interesting people. MaryJon and her husband Art have been Greentrees residents for 14 years. While they have many other interests and hobbies, they are both avid art lovers. Art is a retired Naval aviator, who last served in Antarctica. After retiring from the Navy, Art began working at the University of Memphis, and later became a Physics teacher at Germantown High School for 15 years. Having served our country as a pilot, Art retains a great interest in airplanes. But, trains are a passion of his as well. He is an active member of the Railroad Historical Society. Having been stationed in Antarctica it is only logical that he is also an active member of the Explorer?’s Club and is interested in the world?’sremote and ?“hard to get to?” places.

In addition to landscapes, MaryJon is an accomplished portraiture artist. She decided early in life that she would one day be a portrait artist. She received training in figure painting and portraiture at the Memphis College of Art and through self-study. She began her career as an illustrator for the U.S. Navy. After retirement, MaryJon moved her studio to New Orleans. Famous for its art and popular with world travelers, she found the French Quarter to be a rich opportunity to observe a wide variety of facial types from all over the world. MaryJon spent the next six years developing her talent, executing commissions and expanding her studies, at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts. She also studied with nationally acclaimed portraitists Daniel Greene, Bob Graham, and Robert Maniscalco. MaryJon?’s work is in homes and offices throughout the United States and at least 12 countries. She is a member of the American Society of Portrait Artists and the Portrait Society of Atlanta. Her work has been accepted in numerous exhibitions and she has won several awards.

No Need to Sit.....MaryJon can paint a life-like portrait from a photograph. It is also possible to use several photographs, including pets, for a group portrait. If the subject is available, she will take photographs and make color sketches. The client approves the pose selected. The portrait is painted in her studio, with a final session for approval. The time required is from one to sixweeks, depending upon the size and complexity of the job. Complete satisfaction is assured in every case.

COME AND MEET THE ARTIST
Come and meet MaryJon at the Greentrees Garden Tour on May 4th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.. She will be on hand to share many of her paintings and to answer any questions you might have. You can e-mail her at: maryjonart@webtv.net or call her at (901) 757-8860.

YARD OF THE MONTH
*Mar...Bonnie & Ty Ragland
2347 Paper Birch Lane

*Apr... Kathy & Joe Millner
2014 Kirby Parkway

Keep up the good work; we are always looking for our next yard of the month winner. It could be you!

RECOMMENDATION FROM A NEIGHBOR
In this day of sometimes disappointing work ethics, it is good to know of a peerless and flawless wallpaper and paint team - Fred and Roberto Kaay of Kaay Wall Treatments. This is how I found them. I went to the manager of Sherwin-Williams Paint Store and asked, ?“Do you know of a painter who is neat and wouldn?’t drip a drop of paint for anything? Without hesitation, he wrote down their telephone number. I was so impressed with their work that I would like to share my ?“find?” with all Greentrees residents. I know that the Neighborhood is looking so pretty outside and many neighbors are working on the inside of their homes as well. I promise you won?’t be disappointed. Call Fred or Roberto at 683-6983 or 726-5961.
MaryJon Herr

NEW NEIGHBORS
Greentrees.....Home, Sweet, Home

Be sure to help welcome our new neighbors to Greentrees.

* Kathleen Willis
6784 Sunburst Cove

* Mark & Lucy Fox
2228 Thornwood Lane

Need Your
Pool Opened?

With spring already here, it is time to have pools opened. Are you always looking for someone to open your pool?

John is a college student who has worked in the pool business for many years. He is reliable and will give references, so call soon and get on the list to have your pool opened. Call John at 755-9162 for more information.

GREENTREES CRIME WATCH
Now to the unpleasant part of the newsletter. It seems that Greentrees is still being victimized by crime. Mark White, our neighborhood liaison with the Police Department, has asked that we remind you to please not leave anything in your car or carport for someone to see and help themselves to. There is still a rash of car break-ins in our neighbor-hood, so lets all be on the lookout. If everyone stays alert to what is going on around them maybe we can put an end to these petty crimes.

The warmer weather is just a reminder to be ?“crime smart.?” This is always a popular time of year for the criminals to look for victims to prey upon. Be sure to lock all your doors even when you are home. It wouldn?’t hurt to even set your alarm. If you are working in your yard (front or back yard) be sure to still lock your doors. While you are working hard outside the thieves could be working hard at getting into your home. This seems to be a popular trick for a criminal every year to watch you work outside and then sneak into your home and steal your personal belongings.
So, if we all just lock our doors and keep a look out to what is going on around us, we can send a signal to the criminals to leave Greentrees and not return.

Recent incidents:

* Greentrees has had an extremely high number of car break-ins. If anything is left in your car it will tempt someone to break-in. Try not to leave anything in view, and lock your doors.

*Recently a purse was stolen out of a residents car on Black Oak while she was taking items into her house. A few minutes later a man was banging on her front door. She does not know who he was or what he wanted, but he did finally leave.

* The week before Easter clothes items were thrown out along Hickory Crest. If you were burglarized and would like to call regarding these items please call Angie Yeiser at 753-2414.

If anyone knows of a crime that has occurred in Greentrees, please call the police department (528-2222), and our East Precinct Advisor, Mark White (754-8149). If Mark is made aware of a crime, he can follow-up during his monthly meeting with Precinct Officers. Thank you for your support and remember to keep a protective eye on your neighbors and their property. Mark White is looking for someone to help him on occasion attend the Precinct meetings. If you would like to help out, call Mark White at 754-8149.


Greentrees now has a Web Master

www.neighborhoodlink.com/memphis/greentrees

In our last Newsletter we asked for a volunteer to help our association keep up with our existing web page. We were thrilled to receive a call almost immediately from Pam Brown. Pam and her husband James moved into their Greentrees home on Kirby Parkway in 1993, along with their two children who are now both in college. James is Director of Music and Worship at Independent Presbyterian Church and Pam is Director of Children?’s Choir at IPC. Pam says she is self-taught and welcomes any recommendations that you may have. You can go to our website and go to the icon for ?“Greentrees Website Contact?” and relay any information you would like Pam to consider.

Our web site is still a work in progress, however Pam has already made drastic improvements and recommendations. Previous newsletters are being downloaded to the web site as well as the current newsletter.

Would you like to be the first to receive Greentrees information? Please consider sending your e-mail address to Pam Brown. This will be completely private and your e-mail address will not be shared or given to outside sources.
Send your e-mail address to Pam Brown at grntrees@midsouth.rr.com. You will only receive e-mails when there is important or emergency information that needs to be distributed fast. Be sure to save the web address to your favorites and check it often. Pam is working hard to keep Greentrees ?“in the know.?”

Thanks, Pam, from your Greentrees neighbors for your work on our web site. It is sure looking good!

PET OWNERS NEED REMINDER
There have been numerous complaints regarding ?“Dog Poop?”, so here is a little reminder. We all know there is a leash law, so we try to abide by the law by walking our dogs on their leash. However, it seems that many people think that if the dog is on a leash they have fulfilled their responsibility as pet owners. You cannot just look the other way when your beloved pet does its deed in someone?’s yard. Many residents want the association to do something about it. Well folks, You are the association. If you are afraid to confront your neighbor when you see them allowing their pets to poop all over the grass - ask yourself - do you really think they care about your feelings? It would not appear so! If they did, they would take the initiative and responsibility of cleaning up after their pets. We all know that dog poop is just a fact of life. However there is a simple solution to making everyone happy. When you walk your dog carry a bag (i.e. newspaper bag, or some other plastic bag) and after your dog has done it?’s deed, just put your hand into the bag pick up the poop and turn the bag inside out and knot it. It?’s as easy as that and I am sure that you will make your neighbors happy. Thank you in advance for being more courteous to your neighbors.

SOME EXCITING NEWS!!
As reported here the Association commissioned local Greentrees artist MaryJon Hardin Herr to paint a rendering of our beautiful parkway to honor and bid farewell to our outgoing president Bonnie Ragland. The oil painting is of Kirby Parkway in full bloom with the ?“Greentrees?” sign posts that Bonnie had worked so hard with the City to have installed. We have received tentative word that the City is finally going to approve this effort. MaryJon?’s painting was so beautiful that many in attendance at the membership meeting expressed interest in having a print of it if possible. Mary Jon did her research and has found someone to do this for the association. We are excited to be able to offer for purchase an extremely good quality print on canvas that will be available in several sizes. An 8 x 10 will cost $25.00 and a 11 x 14 will be $40.00. We are in the process of putting the picture on our website for you to view and decide what size you would like to purchase. If you have any questions please feel free to call Ann Schmitt at 754-0365. And again, we want to thank MaryJon for graciously giving such a gift to our neighborhood.


Condolences

Our condolences on the loss of their loved ones are extended to:

* Charles and Ann Schmitt on the recent loss of Charles?’ mother.


NEIGHBORHOODFEST
The Heart & Soul of Memphis
at Audubon Park
April 27, 2002
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Each year the City of Memphis holds a Neighborfest to honors its communities. The program is sponsored by the Center for Neighborhoods, and will give area neighborhoods the opportunity to exchange ideas on ways to keep their neighborhood safe and beautiful. This program also offers friendly competition for Neighbor-hood Association of the Year and Leaders of the Year. The festival is a way to show the positive aspects of what the communities are all about. Greentrees Association has participated for many years and residents have been awarded ?“Leader of the Year?”. Special recognition has been given for our directory, and our organization of the Section Representatives/ Block Captains to maintain communication with all residents of Greentrees has also been honored. The Neighborfest will include entertainment, games, children?’s activities, and special recognition to neighborhoods and agencies/businesses. You will have an opportunity to meet your neighbors. Come join the Greentrees Civic Association Representatives and help promote Greentrees as a wonderful place to live .The Garden Tour will also be spotlighted and prints of the painting by MaryJon Hardin Herr will be available for purchase. See you at Audubon Park on Saturday, April 27.