North Center Revitalization Assoc. (NCRA)

newsletter

Nov 23, 2003

NCRA BUSINESS MEETINGS

Regularly scheduled business meetings are held each 4th Wednesday of the month at 6:30. The location may vary each month. Contact Barry Weller to find out where. We would be honored if you would join us for information, and to give your input and express your needs. There will be a leadership training meeting on Oct. 15 at Whitman Sch.


NEWSLETTER ALERT!!

WE DESPERATELY NEED TO ADD TO OUR DELIVERY TEAM SO NO-ONE HAS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR TOO MANY. WE ALSO NEED SOMEONE WHO?’S FORTE IS COORDINATING TEAMS. ALSO, WE CAN USE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NEWSLETTERS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMTRIBUTE SOMETHING TO AN UPCOMING NEWSLETTER, OR ASSIST WITH THE NEWSLETTER DELIVERIES, PLEASE CONTACT THE EDITOR, DEE ANDERSON BY E-MAIL.
DesertPsalm@cs.com
Phone: (480) 649-9148



Creating a Safer Cleaner Neighborhood

Mission statement

The mission of the North Center Revitalization Association is to create a clean and healthy neighborhood to promote pride, stability, and mutual respect. We affirm a common interest in a safe neighborhood that preserves property values. We are committed to working together for the common good of all members of our community.

Declaration de Mision
La mision del North Center Revitalization Association (NCRA ?– Asociacion de Revitalizacion de Norte Center) Es de crear una vecindad limpia y sana para promover orgullo, estabilidad, y respeto mutal. Afirmamos un interes comun en una vecindad segura cual mantiene los valores de propiedad. Estamos comprometidos a trabar.

NCRA is a neighborhood volunteer group working together to improve the neighborhood area from Brown Road. to McKellips, and Mesa Drive to Country Club Drive. You are a member of NCRA just because you are our neighbor! NCRA is not a dues-collecting homeowners association.
?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—?—
NCRA es un grupo de voluntarios de la vecindad trabajando juntos para mejorar la area entre Brown Rd. hasta McKellips, y Mesa Drive hasta Country Club Drive. Eres un miembro de NCRA porque eres uno de nuestros vecinos! NCRA no es una asociacion de duenos de casa cual colecta cuotas


NEIGHBORHOOD AWARDS

Every January, The City of Mesa holds a Neighborhood Conference and Awards event. Awards are given to a Neighborhood group in each of several categories of excellence, and an individual award, named the Virgina M. Lamb Award to an outstanding Mesa neighborhood leader. If you would like to nominate a group or an individual, nomination packets may be obtained by calling Heidi Annest in the Neighborhood Outreach Office at (480)644-4476.


A TRIBUTE TO VIRGINIA LAMB ?– A GO-GETTER WITH A BIG HEART

















On November 16, 2002, Mesa and the NCRA neighborhood lost one of its most remarkable neighborhood leaders, Virginia Lamb. Virginia was one of the founding members of NCRA. She made her home on the corner of Center and Inglewood Streets for over 30 years. Virginia and her husband, Buford, were proud of their home. When drug dealers, prostitutes, slumlords, thieves, gangs, and property code violators began to take over the neighborhood, Virginia and Buford fought for what they worked so hard to build. They accessed every avenue available to preserve their property value and prevent the demise of their neighborhood.

After Buford passed away, Virginia fought all the harder to overcome the crime and blight that had infiltrated the North Center neighborhood. She refused to turn a blind eye by closing the curtains and pretending the serious neighborhood issues didn?’t exist, or by selling her home and moving elsewhere. When gunshots rang out near her home, Virginia would drop to the floor and call 9-1-1 without a second thought. On several occasions, she opened her home to Mesa Police officers to conduct stings to bust drug dealers. Virginia was the catalyst for many positive changes that happened in the neighborhood ?– the Mesa Police substation on E. Ingram, a meth lab bust on E. Inglewood, and the reduction of crime as a whole are just a few.

Occasionally we are fortunate to encounter a larger than life individual who has positively influenced our life and improved the quality of the community. Many of us are very blessed to say we knew one of them --Virginia Lamb. City of Mesa officials?’ respect and appreciation for the feisty, persistent person of Virginia led them to bestow her with a special honor. In the words of City of Mesa council member Claudia Walters, ?“Because of her [Virginia?’s] desire to make Mesa a better place for children, her dedication to making her own neighborhood a safer and better place to live, and the mentoring she did for other emerging neighborhood leaders, the leadership award that is given annually at the Mesa Neighborhood Conference will now be named the Virginia M. Lamb Leadership Award.?”

God-speed, Virginia. We miss you dearly and will never forget you.


In Honor of

3VIRGINIA LAMB

A Teacher
A premiere leader with a generous spirit
An ordinary yet dynamic citizen who
Acted with courage and conviction
Without regard for personal
safety or comfort.
Because of her dedication to fight for
What Is Right
She mobilized an entire community
To save a neighborhood.
Her memory inspires us
to continue her mission.



THANKS!

We want to thank all people who have helped NCRA, and this neighborhood in any way. There have been team coordinators, newsletter folders and delivererS, printing services, those who have written articles, people who have donated equipment, made phone calls, and assisted in a myriad of other ways. We couldn?’t do it without you!

BEYOND COMPLIANCE
By Tom Okabe, Code Compliance Officer

Our office often receives calls from citizens asking if we are able to help them solve problems in their neighborhoods. Many times, we can satisfy them to a degree, but they express the fact that they would like more to be done.

The Department's main goal is to maintain a standard for all neighborhoods so that they are safe, attractive, and allow homeowners to maintain as high a real estate value as they can.

We currently have nuisance, sign, housing, and zoning ordinances that meet a "minimum" standard for all neighborhoods. Residents, however, often have a higher standard for where they want their neighborhood to be. This means, then, that all neighbors must work together in creating the neighborhood they all seek.

Many times, an ordinance will not only state what is not allowed but the exact specifics. For example: Overgrown weeds or grass are not allowed. How do I know if my weeds or grass are overgrown? The ordinance specifies that if it occupies more than 50 contiguous square feet, and the predominant height in excess of 9 inches, it is considered overgrown. Therefore, resident who haveless than 50 adjacent square feet with grass or weeds over 9 inches are not in violation. Likewise if they have over 50 contiguous square feet with slightly overgrown grass or weeds (5-8 inches) they are not in violation However, this may not be attractive. And so it is up to the neighbors to communicate with neighbors in order to keep up a standard which is mutually pleasing. We all want to be proud of our home, and our neighborhood, and to be able to do anything we please where we live. We can have both as long as we remain aware of everyone?’s thoughts and feelings. Together we can create a neighborhood we can all enjoy.

Tom Okabe
Code Compliance Division
P.O. Box 1466
Mesa, AZ 85211-1466
Tel: (480) 644-5512
Fax: (480) 644-2897
Tetsuo.Okabe@cityofmesa.org

BULK ITEM PICKUP

Do you have large items that you are not sure how to dispose of? The city of Mesa will pick them up for a small charge. All
You have to do is call the Solid waste division at (480)644-2688 to schedule a pickup.

Items that qualify are:

Yard waste
Furniture
Appliances
Mattresses
Other items too large for your barrel

Lightweight items and cactus or other sharp objects should be placed in plastic bags or boxes. Tree branches, wood, carpet, etc. must be cut not to exceed 24?” by 48?”.

DO NOT put dirt, rock, gravel, cement, shingles, bricks, dry wall, blocks, tires, cardboard (recyclable), or hazardous materials out for collection.

Items must be at curb by 6:00
a.m. the day scheduled, but not before 6:00 p.m. the day prior to collection day.

For questions and scheduling, call (480)644-288.
FREE PAINT PROGRAM

In conjunction with the hazardous waste collection events, the City of Mesa offers free paint to residents who have a financial need.
At present, there is a limited amount of paint available. However, the next hazardous waste collection will be held on October 18, 2003 at 6935 E. Decatur (Power Rd. N. of University), and again on January 17, 2004 at 2412 N. Center St. (N. of McKellips). After that, there will be plenty of re-mixed and strained, good exterior latex paint available.

For information on how to obtain free paint, to be put on the waiting list for paint, or for guidelines on disposing of your hazardous waste at one of the above events, call Brad at the city of Mesa at (480)644-2690.

EDITOR?’S CORNER
By Dee Anderson


NEAT ATTACK!

HEY! Something great is happening out there in our neighborhood! The other day, I was driving through a section of our NCRA neighborhood and noticed that things didn?’t look the same as before. All through the area, it looked like people had suddenly had a neat attack. Looks great! Keep up the good work!

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS By Dee Anderson

By Dee Anderson


How would you like to know who to call when you need a certain kind of help? We would like to set up a column in the newsletter where you can list the things you do that you would like to make available your neighbors, and maybe do some bartering. Please contact the editor at (480)649-9148 if you would like to list your skill, or if you have a need. We will be compiling a database. We are excited about offering this service to our neighborhood.


EVAC Offers Workshop
EAST VALLEY ADDICTION COUNCIL

We as a community, have been offered free of charge, the services of EVAC?’s Ann Warner, who gives a75 minute Power Point presentation that reaches parents with the tools of drug prevention through neighborhood coalitions. The mission of EVAC is ?“to reduce individual, family, and environmental risk factors associated with Substance abuse; increase resiliency, and achieve individual and comprehensive community wellness through a collaborative approach.?” Topics include ?“Drugs of the 21st Century?”, as well as effective parenting strategies for building resistance in youth. Come hear what parents can do to help kids fight the battle against substance abuse.

Ann is the Parent Education Specialist for EVAC in Mesa, AZ. She is completing her B.A. in Communication, with a minor in Family Studies & Child Development. Interested? E-mail Dee at:
DesertPsalm@cs.com
or call (480)649-9148
CRIME-FREE HOUSING
By Mari K. Kurn

Want a safer community to live in? The Mesa Crime Free Multi-Housing Program, part of an international program, is here to help you do just that. Apartment owners are encouraged to get on board!

The crime free program is multifaceted, with many goals which break down into helping create safer, and less transient neighborhoods.

The Mesa Crime Free Multi-Housing Program, copyright 1996 by the City of Mesa Police Department states, ?“There are three ways criminal activity comes into a rental community. The criminal lives there, they visit friends there, or they randomly come onto the property to commit crimes.?”

Under the program, we do background checks (criminal and credit), and check previous residency and work references. We do not rent to convicted felons. Everyone is on a lease.

I am completely up-front with potential tenants about these checks. It is amazing how few show for an appointment when they know we follow the Crime Free Program.

Existing Existing tenants feel safer, and there is more interaction in the complex, which helps deter criminal activity. In my complex, we all watch out for each other, and that includes cars and other property.

Again from the Crime Free Workbook, ?“In the City of Mesa there are over 600 rental properties. Nearly one-third of all Mesa residents live in rental property.?”

One Crime Free sign uses the motto, ?“Keeping Illegal Activity Out of Rental Property.?”

My motto might be, ?“Be a good neighbor, clean-up litter, follow some simple rules, and we will have a ?‘home?’, not just a complex.?”

How can you join the Crime Free Program? Call Debbie at (480) 644-2090.

TOOL LENDING PROGRAM

In effort to assist homeowners in keeping Mesa Neighborhoods safe and attractive, and to help maintain property values, the Code Compliance Division Tool Lending Program has a tool bank for registered neighborhoods and community service groups who are conducting neighborhood cleanups. Call 644-2061 to find out what tools are available, and how you and your community group can participate.

SPECIAL PROJECTS ASSISTANCE

Many residents in Mesa are unable to take care of their alleys or homes due to physical or financial limitations. The Neighborhood Outreach Office may be able to help coordinate a special project to help such residents out. Projects may be completed which might not otherwise be possible, by partnering with local business, other City divisions, as well as Maricopa County Adult Probation and other community service groups. Some tools and materials may be provided by the Neighborhood Outreach Office. Interested? Contact Lisa Karpowicz at (480)644-3705







FLOATERS OFFERS FREE COMPUTER TRAINING
By Barry Weller

Floaters ?– Just what is that? We are in a desert, you know! Well, we are talking about a different kind of floaters! Let?’s look a bit deeper.

Floaters is mostly a volunteer organization facilitated by some knowledgeable organizations, such as the ASU education department. They are dedicated to helping people who do not normally have access to computers and the benefits of computer knowledge. Their roots are diverse, but this aspect is most interesting to me. I can attest to the enthusiasm and commitment behind their mentoring program, and support their efforts whenever possible.

Free bilingual computer and Internet training classes are being offered at a newly opened facility named Casa de Amor Community Technology Center. It is located at 819 S. MacDonald, on the SE corner of MacDonald and 8th Ave.

For more detailed information, if you do have access to a computer, you can visit www.floaters.org/, or E-mail Vince at mesavince@hotmail.com, or floaters@asu.edu. You may also E-mail Barry Weller, Co-Chair of NCRA, at bweller@parknelco.com.

To sign up for a class, contact Barbara at (480)464-2877.

WHO?’S RUNNING THIS SHOW,
ANYWAY? By Barry Weller

Well, the truth is ?— You are, if you show up and give us your opinion, ideas and feedback. Here to help facilitate information exchange, and to focus attention on critical issues, as well as to help expand communications in our community, is the NCRA steering committee, made up of the following people:

Barry Weller, Co-Chair, bweller@parknelco.com
Urbano Soto, Co-Chair, contact Barry for now.
Alice Swinehart, Secretary, contact Barry for now.
Greg Holtz, Treasurer, AAAMesa2@aol.com
Earnest Johnson, Website editor, earniejohnson@msm.com
Mari Kurn, member, mkamethyst@aol.com

Please read the NCRA mission statement on page 4. It is a very positive directive that many of your friendly and energetic neighbors believe in. We always welcome more involvement and ?“voting power?”. With greater participation, NCRA becomes more representative as the larger neighborhood needs become better defined.

Part of our goal is to support the smaller, important areas of our communities designated as Block Watch Areas. We do not wish to direct any of them, but choose to help them find resources when they need them, and to help them share their positive ideas and accomplishments with other smaller groups in the NCRA area.

For more details, we invite you to visit our web site at www.neighborhoodlink.org/mesa/ncra. Earnie works diligently to continually improve it?’s value to our neighborhood. Please join our discussion section. It is becoming a valuable resource for understanding some of the history and activities in which NCRA was previously involved .



NCRA WEBSITE
By Earnie Johnson

www.neighborhoodlink.com/mesa/ncra is an Internet website directed to enhancing communications within the NCRA boundaries. In existence 8 months, it is a ?“work in progress?”. It?’s purpose? 1) to publicize NCRA meetings and activities, and Mesa activities relevant to NCRA residents, 2) to provide practical information, 3) to provide a forum to discuss issues important to NCRA residents. We need you for the success of the website. We would like to develop the ?“Talk About It?” page into dynamic resource for discussion of neighborhood issues. E-mail earniejohnson@msn.com with ideas, needs, or anything that would benefit NCRA residents, and he will be glad to post it on the website.


MESA CAT TEAM - PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY
By Michelle Adams

The Central District Community Action Team is dedicated to improving the quality of life for the citizens that live within this district. The Community Action Team utilizes an aggressive approach to problem solving, in conjunction with neighborhood participation, relating to crimes in your area.

- Street Level Drug Trafficking and use
- Prostitution
- Criminal Nuisance Abatement
- Criminal Trespass Enforcement Program
- Burglary Reduction

If you have concerns about crime occurring in your neighborhood, we'd like to hear from you. The Central Community Action Team consists of thirteen officers and two sergeants. There are several ways to contact us. You can access the City of Mesa web site at CityofMesa.org. Listed on the web site under Central District Community Action Team are all the officers?’ E-mail addresses.

There is a beat up map that shows what officers work the area where you live. You can also call us at 480-644-4061 or 480-644-3791. We will answer any questions you have, feel free to contact us. I have worked closely with the NCRA organization over the last year, and we will continue every effort to make your neighborhood safe.

Officer Michelle Adams
Central Community Action Team

Thank you for being there, CAT Team. We appreciate all your hard work to make our neighborhood a safer, better place to live!












WANNA VOLUNTEER?
BY DEE ANDERSON

Our neighborhood is a reflection of the individuals that live there. Somehow, though, I think the reflection will become clearer and brighter as caring people become involved in improving the safety and well-being that we all experience.

North Center Revitalization Association would like to extend an invitation to everyone within our borders, which are from the south side of McKellips to the north side of Brown, Rd., and from the east side of Country Club Dr. to the west side of Mesa Dr. To paraphrase a famous quote from John Kennedy, ?“Ask not what your neighborhood can do for you, but what you can do for your neighborhood. There are exciting things happening, and we want you to be a part of it!

Following is a list of things with which you could assist us in effort to improve the neighborhood we live in:
-Assisting with phone calls.
-Writing an article for the newsletter.
-Helping with newsletter delivery.
-Coordinating a delivery team.
-Being available to run errands.
-Being available for specific assignments.

There are other needs, as well. If there is anything you might like to contribute, regardless whether it is listed here, don?’t hesitate to call Barry Weller, or regarding the newsletter, call Dee at (480)649-9148.