Oakdale Neighborhood Association

ACORN October/November, 2005

Oct 10, 2005

And the Beat Goes On...
by Kim Childress, President, Oakdale Neighborhood Association

As summer in Oakdale draws to a close, this is a great time to reflect on what we have accomplished. One is the Neighborhood Assessment Project. If you remember, we all completed our surveys and then spent time recapping the results. We had the highest number of survey responses of any neighborhood that had undertaken the assessment thus far. As a result of that process, we identified our 3 top priorities for attention: 1) Property Code Violations; 2) Semple Elementary; and 3) Crime Reduction. We also have been "adopted" by the Metro United Way so that we now have their support, too. I hope that most of you were aware of the great Oakdale clean up and planting flowers at Semple.. this project was a direct result of the Neighborhood Assessment and Metro United Way's involvements. Thanks to everyone who participated in the endeavor - from those who passed out surveys, to those who filled them out, to the one's who planted flowers at Semple and helped clean the streets.

Also, this summer we were able to develop many new neighborhood block watches. I hope that you have noticed increased police patrols-this is a direct result of our block watch development committee and Oakdale's relationship with the LMPD. We have to give much thanks to Officer Andrea Brown and Major David Ray for their support. They will continue to help us clean up Oakdale.

You may have also read in the Courier Journal that Oakdale is a targeted neighborhood for revitalization. This is great news..if you go down the 900 block of Brentwood, you will notice that 917 Brentwood is GONE! Soon you will see a brand new home go up. Oakdale is working in partnership with HPI (Housing Partnership, Inc.) to build/remodel homes for low to moderate-income families to own their own homes. Soon we will be offering homeownership classes and foreclosure prevention classes for Oakdale Residents (free of charge and all confidential).

Please be sure to attend our next general neighborhood meeting on October 4 ?…we plan on addressing some changes in our by-laws and looking for more candidates for the Board of Directors for the Oakdale Neighborhood Association. We need as many Oakdale residents as possible.

I would like to make a special plea to the renters in Oakdale... please join us as we move forward in Oakdale. Many times it is only the homeowners who participate in the decision-making process -- we would like to have some people who rent in Oakdale helping us.

Also, one last thing,Ellen O'Leary, our past president of 12 years received an award on September 13 from the Louisville Community Design Center for all her hard work and tenacity in fighting for Oakdale. What a jewel we have in Ellen - she is a true asset to this community. Thank you Ellen, for all your hard work.

Block Watch News
by Maury Weedman, Co-Chair, ONA Block Watch Committee

Louisville Metro Police made a major showing in Oakdale in the past month. Many drug related arrests were made. Please call or write the Fourth District police office and thank Major David Ray for this attention to problems in Oakdale and request that the support be continued. Leave a thank you for Major Ray by calling 574-7010.

The action has been dramatic. It can be disturbing, but we need to go through this difficult phase of clean-up before we have a peaceful neighborhood once again. The police department has many constraints upon it, but I am totally convinced that they want to do what they can
for Oakdale. Let's keep them as energized and focused as we can by
sending them thanks and positive thoughts. These folks do risk their lives for us each day.

Oakdale Neighborhood Goals
The following is a list of expectations the Block Watch Group for Denmark and Evelyn have come up with. If we all do these things, the neighborhood will be greatly improved.
1. Keep our homes and property in good trim and repair.
2. Keep our property and streets free of leaves and litter.
3. Remove snow from sidewalks as promptly as possible.
4. Those of us who are able bodied should help neighbors unable to remove snow, leaves, or litter. At times more pressing
responsibilities or disabilities may prevent inhabitants from performing routine maintenance.
5. Welcome new neighbors.
6. Teach our children, by example, to respect the rights, property and privacy of others.
7. Discourage our children from gathering on street corners by providing them with supervised activities either in the home or community and church centers.
8. Train our children to preserve the beauty and tranquility of our neighborhood.
9. Recognize that in order to enjoy the privileges of a good community, we must all assume our obligations.
10. Assist the elderly, disabled, or otherwise vulnerable members of our neighborhood.

Keep your faith in the neighborhood and your good neighbors. Watch after each other. Communicate with each other. Don't hesitate to call the police even if you think something just might be happening. Trust your instincts and if you are occasionally wrong-- better safe than sorry. If you have unsatisfactory service from a police officer, call Major Ray at 574-7010. He has invited us to contact him personally with such complaints.

Keep calling 311 for abandoned cars, trash, and building code violations. Leave your porch lights on in both the front and back. When out on foot, be aware at all times. Avoid confrontations with people who could be dangerous. All of us have to act to overcome the challenges to our neighborhood. Do something, even the smallest thing - but do something.


VOLUNTEERS DESCEND ON OAKDALE!!!

On Friday, Sept. 9, the Oakdale neighborhood was the site of a Metro United Way Day of Caring project, as many, many wonderful volunteers came out to help Oakdale spruce up. They were joined by some very hard-working neighborhood residents, too! A group of employees from Metro United Way took to Oakdale?’s streets and alleys picking up trash. Groups of employees from UPS and Metro Louisville worked at Semple Elementary, planting flowers, mulching, pruning overgrown bushes, and picking up trash. In addition, volunteers read to Semple students. There were inspirational speakers, including Mayor Jerry Abramson, Ms. Tiffeny Gerstner, Principal of Semple, Joe Tolan, President of MUW, Tori Murden McClure of Spalding University, and our own ONA President Kim Childress. Mayor Abramson helped plant a tree in front of Semple with the help of a number of enthusiastic kids.

Thanks to all who made this such a success, including MUW (for sponsoring the event and providing the wonderful volunteers), Operation Brightside (for flowers, trash bags, gloves, and cleaning equipment), and Kroger at Central Station (for 88 potted mums). Finally, thanks to the great residents of Oakdale for their hard work, including Cary Bishop, Kim Childress, Pauletta Feldman, James Hannon, Dana & Allan Harley and daughter, Pattee Lucket and friend Marsha, Linda Oechsli, Maury & Jamie Weedman, and some former Semple students who joined the effort. This event left Semple Elementary and the center section of Oakdale looking all spruced up!!

Mary's Musings
by Mary Trabue

We've a new Editor for the Acorn. Her request came to me to have an article ready before our second Block Watch meeting. So for the next Acorn, I'll report on the 500 -- 700 blocks of Whitney / Camden Block Watch. I'm excited about getting to know neighbors.

It has been said of old," Where there is no vision, the people perish " This quotation dates back to about 350 B.C. according to scholars.

Do you have a vision of what Oakdale could be like ? My vision is Peace, Tranquility, Friends, Smiles, and Welcoming new neighbors.

I have been to some areas where the people's ancestors came from countries that had a tradition of cleanness and neatness. Driving through these areas you find the homes and farms there neat and tidy and the yards clean and well-groomed. Once coming across Wisconsin, it looked like everyone cut their grass on the same day of the week, not only in the towns but on the farms as well. Grass looked uniform in height, as if there was a law saying "Grass shall be cut 2 inches high, everywhere," it was well-trimmed, even around the barns and other outbuildings. Surprisingly there was no mud in areas around the barns.

What is your Vision for an Ideal Neighborhood ? Whether one word, one sentence, or a complete dream. Put it on paper and give it to me at our next ONA meeting or e-mail it to gctray@bellsouth.net or drop it in the mail to Mary Trabue,710 Whitney Ave. 40215 .

I'm sure we're like Martin Luther King when he said " I have a dream-where all men are equal-" We all have dreams or visions but we use different avenues to arrive at our own Vision for a better Neighborhood. So share your thoughts.

Litter, Litter, Everywhere!
by Pauletta Feldman, Newsletter Editor

In the past year or so, I have seen a tremendous increase in trash in our streets, alleys, and yards. So much of it is litter from fast food containers and snack foods. While I have seen kids freely dropping their litter as they go walking through the neighborhood, I have also seen adults throwing whole bags of McDonald's trash on the street as they drive by my house. It is unfair that those of us who don't litter must contend with the mess from those who do, however, it is nonetheless the law that we clean up around our property.

Each property owner is responsible for keeping the alley behind his or her house free of rubbish, weeds, trash, waste, or litter, from the center of the alley to the owner's property line. We are also responsible for the upkeep of any part of our property that borders a public area, including sidewalks, streets, steps, driveways, parking spaces, and similar paved areas.

In addition, property owners are responsible for keeping public areas free of overhanging trees or shrubs and any other obstacles or debris that may block walkways. Sidewalks and driveways must be maintained so as not to present a danger to pedestrians. Weeds/grass or plant growth (except garden plants & flowers) over 10 inches tall are also a violation of city law.

Penalties for Violating the Law
The penalties for breaking this law include civil and/or criminal penalties and fines ranging from $25 to $1,000 and possibly the cost of cleaning. The Department of Inspections, Permits & Licenses (IPL) can also make on the spot fines of $100 for violations involving uncut grass and disabled vehicles parked unlawfully.


UPCOMING EVENTS
Tuesday, Sept. 27
Oakdale Garden Club
906 Evelyn in the backyard, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 4
Oakdale Neighborhood Association Meeting
Southside Baptist Church, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 11
Junk Pickup for Oakdale
Friday, October 14
Fish Fry
Most Blessed Sacrament Cafeteria, 4-7 p.m.
Friday, October 14
Monte Carlo Night
Most Blessed Sacrament Cafeteria, 7-11 p.m., (must be 18 or older)
Saturday, October 15
Fall Festival & Turkey Dinner
Most Blessed Sacrament, dinner 3-7 p.m., festival 4-10 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 19
Healthy Hearts Support Group ?“Keeping Fit During the Winter Months - Caritas Medical Center, 1st Floor Assembly Room, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 12
3rd Annual Mayor's Neighborhood Summit
Clarion Hotel, Hurstborne Ln., 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Oakdale Garden Club News!

The first meeting of the Oakdale Garden Club was held in the backyard of ONA President Kim Childresses on August 23. Denise Peterson, of the County Extension Services, was our guest speaker. She offered great advice about putting our gardens "to bed"for the winter. She provided a wealth of information!! The next Oakdale Garden Club meeting will be Sept. 27, in the backyard of Maury Weedman and Pauletta Feldman, 906 Evelyn Ave, 361-8142. Come and bring some bulbs or plants to share!!


W.W.E. WRESTLING - Pay-Per-View
Pioneer Hall - Most Blessed Sacrement Church
Taylor and Berry Blvds. - Admission $5
Theater Sound - Theater Screen - Doors Open 6 p.m.
NO MERCY - Oct. 9
SURVIVOR SERIES - Nov. 27
ARMAGEDDON - Dec. 18
Beer, Hot Wings & Other Concessions
For more info call 363-5558 or 366-4482


BINGO
Most Blessed Sacrament Pioneer Hall
Every Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., Doors open at 6 p.m.
Games $120 - Progressive Cover-All $1,000. If not won in 50
numbers, game is played out for $500. Numbers to win
increase by 1 each week until the $1,000 is won. Then it starts
all over again. License No. 0243
For more info call 361-0149.



UPS - Bringing Great Jobs to You!
At UPS your future can really take off. We offer a competitive salary, great benefits, and an education, too. Metropolitan
College Program* - 100% tuition paid, money for books &
housing. Earn & Learn Program* - Money for tuition and books. Call our jobline M-F, 9 a.m. -- 6 p.m., 359-1877,
24-hour jobline 888-877-9675, TTY 359-1864.
Affirmative Action Employer
* Must meet program guidelines. Designated shifts.


Welcome New Members
Sherry Curry Danny & Trish Saltsman
Brentwood Avenue Denmark Street
Lisa Hawkings Johnny Scott
Brentwood Avenue Brentwood Avenue
Earlene Jaggers Lesa Sprinkle
Brentwood Avenue Brentwood Avenue
Danny & Pattee Luckett Debbie & Steve Ward
Brentwood Avenue Evelyn Avenue
Etta & Sonny McKeen Carol Woosley
Brentwood Avenue Denmark Avenue
Pat & Gary McPherson Rose Ziegler
Brentwood Avenue Brentwood Avenue



The Acorn is a bi-monthly publication of the
OAKDALE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, INC.
C/O 1015 Berry Blvd., Louisville, KY 40215, 541-6148.
Annual Dues: $2 Individual; $4 Family; $7 Business.
THANKS to the Advertisers and Business Members for their support! Neighbors, please support them.

Don't forget to listen to 95.1FM for
neighborhood news and events updates.