Sherwood Forest

October 2002

Sep 29, 2002

HALLOWEEN PARTY FOR SHERWOOD FOREST CHILDREN ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26

Games, prizes, refreshments and special goodies for every child to take home are just a part of the fun planned for the Sherwood Forest Halloween Party on Saturday, October 26, at All Saints Church, 3837 West Seven Mile Road. The party will begin at 5:30 p.m. and end at 7:30 p.m. All children through age 12, and their parents, are invited.

The Sherwood Forest Halloween Party has become a not-to-be-missed event for our neighborhood. Volunteers are needed to help make this year's party the best ever. If you can donate candy or other refreshments, if you can help with the pre-party preparations, or if you can help at the party itself, please call Carl Hardin at 341-8196 or Alfred Greene, Jr. at 861-6286. And on Saturday, October 26, put on your most creative costume and join our young neighbors for a ghoulishly good time.


A HALLOWEEN REMINDER
ABOUT TRICK-OR-TREATING

If you want to have trick-or-treaters come to your home on Thursday, October 31, leave your front porch light on between the hours of 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. We ask that children trick-or-treat only during those hours and that adults accompany them.

Please park cars in your garage or driveway on Angels' Night and on Halloween, and remind guests to park in your driveway rather than on the street. Drive carefully and watch out for young children in costume.

With everyone's cooperation, we look forward to another happy Halloween celebration in Sherwood Forest.

A special reminder: Thursday is trash pickup day. If possible, please remove your courville container from the front of your property before trick-or-treating begins. This will help to insure that trash containers do not limit the visibility of young trick-or-treaters, as well as drivers, as they go about the neighborhood between the hours of 6:00 and 8:00 p.m.


A HALLOWEEN MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE

Every year, Detroiters volunteer to patrol neighborhoods, turn on porch lights and "adopt" vacant buildings on Angels' Night and Halloween. Because of the efforts of these volunteers, the city has been able to reduce drastically the number of arson-related fires on Halloween.

If you can volunteer this year, please call this special number: (313) 224-4415. Each of us can help out in one small way by leaving porch and other outside lights on between dusk and dawn on October 30 and 31.

A SUMMER SUCCESS STORY

Last spring your Association learned that Sabah Babbie and Morton Weiner, the owners of the In and Out party store at 19900-10 Livernois at Pembroke, had requested permission of the Buildings and Safety Engineering Department to construct a 20 by 53 foot masonry addition to the front of the existing store for the purpose of operating a carry-out restaurant there. A public hearing on the request was scheduled for June 26. The Sherwood Forest Association sent letters protesting the new construction, and our Association president, Lois Primas, attended the hearing on behalf of the community. Lois reported that many neighbors, particularly from Greenacres, were there to express opposition. In fact, the opposition was so widespread that the owners of In and Out ended the hearing by withdrawing their request to build the addition.

We consider this a major victory for our neighborhoods, a victory due in large part to the articulate and organized residents of Sherwood Forest and Greenacres, who got a major assist from the pastor of New Prospect Baptist Church. But we shouldn't kid ourselves. This battle probably is not over. We must anticipate that the owners of In and Out will try again, and we must be ready again to respond quickly.

Keeping up with business requests for nonconforming use of property is a big job. We have asked the Buildings and Safety Engineering Department and the Board of Zoning Appeals to notify the Sherwood Forest Association directly whenever a public hearing is scheduled regarding property adjacent to Sherwood Forest, but we have learned that we simply cannot count on timely notification. Every resident living within a specified number of feet of property subject to public hearing must be notified of the hearing date. We ask any Sherwood Forest resident who receives a notice in the mail about a public hearing regarding property in or adjacent to Sherwood Forest to call Lois Primas or Walter Shapero immediately.

We must have a voice in decisions so directly affecting the quality of life in our neighborhood. Issues relating to land use in the city of Detroit and enforcement of our own Sherwood Forest property restrictions have become increasingly time-consuming for your Board of Directors. We need help! Please see the next article.

WANTED: A few good lawyers who will donate their time and talents to advise and assist the Association in the interpretation, compliance and enforcement of property restrictions, assist in dealing with building and zoning matters affecting Sherwood Forest, including issues concerning compliance with Historic District regulations. Fringe benefits and job satisfaction (in the form of good feelings and appreciation arising out of an important job well done) guaranteed. Please contact Lois Primas at 853-0167 or Walter Shapero at 862-2779.

ASSOCIATION BOARD ELECTS OFFICERS

At the September meeting of the Board of Directors of the Sherwood Forest Association, the following members were elected officers for 2002-2003:

Lois Primas - President
Michele Davis - Vice-President
Marcia Baum - Secretary
Sue McMillan - Treasurer

We look forward to a productive year under the leadership of these talented residents.


SPECIAL SPRING CELEBRATION PLANNED

We haven't picked the date yet, but we already are eagerly awaiting the spring event that will have us all celebrating. What will we be celebrating? Two things in particular. First, we are celebrating our recent designation as an historic district. Second, we are celebrating something that transcends the beauty of our winding streets and the architecture of our distinguished houses: our residents, past and present. We are inviting everyone who now lives or ever has lived in Sherwood Forest to "come home," both figuratively and literally, for an evening of food, finery and the sharing of our common affection for this community. It will take the help of many to make this the very special event that we envision. If you would like to help, please call Linda Jones at 863-8310 or Michele Davis at 345-7120.

OUR NEIGHBORS ASK ?…

At the general membership meeting in May at All Saints Church, several residents submitted written questions or comments to the members of the board of directors. We will answer one question in each edition of the Tattler.

RESIDENT'S QUESTION: Can Canterbury Park be turned into a community gathering place with a playscape, benches, etc?

ANSWER: Canterbury Park has been designated a passive park by the city. This means that it is intended to be a quiet green space, but not an area with playground equipment. Several years ago, two park benches were installed in the park. They became a sleeping place for homeless people who came into the neighborhood. When the benches became broken, the city did not have the resources to send someone out to fix them. Understandably, many of the residents who live around the park want to retain its quiet character. Have you checked out the new Gesu Community Green at Oak Drive and McNichols as a possible play area? It has a large and beautiful playscape, as well as a picnic area. It is two minutes away by car, and an easy walk or bike ride away. Although located in the University District, Gesu Community Green exists for the residents of all the surrounding communities, and Sherwood Forest residents are encouraged to use it.

DOG ETIQUETTE

It was recently suggested that we need to install a sign or signs in Canterbury Park saying: "Curb Your Dog." Too many residents are not cleaning up after their dogs when they take them for a walk, and Canterbury Park seems to be a convenient stopping place. Do we really want to spend our Sherwood Forest Association dues money to have signs made reminding us of something we all know already? Curb your dog. No resident should need a reminder of this basic obligation of good citizenship (and good animal etiquette).

REPORTING WATER EMERGENCIES

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) has a 24-hour emergency number for reporting flooded streets and basements, missing manhole covers or water
DETROIT HISTORIC DISTRIC COMMISSION ANNOUNCES NEW WEB SITE

Now that Sherwood Forest is officially an historic neighborhood, residents will be particularly interested in learning about the Detroit Historic District Commission's web site at www.ci.detroit.mi.us/historic. It includes a section on frequently asked questions about historic designation, the Secretary of the Interior's standards for historic designation, an explanation of the state income tax credit program for historic neighborhoods, a list of the types of home repair that require commission review and approval, and a resource guide with a handy contractor list for jobs such as window replacement and repair and maintenance of historic garages. This resource guide is a great supplement to our own "This Old House" list.


MEET ALFRED GREENE, JR.

The Board of Directors of the Sherwood Forest Association is happy to welcome our newest members, Alfred Greene, Jr. of Roslyn Road. Alfred, a native Detroiter, is a minister at Second Baptist Church of Detroit as well as chief executive officer of the APG Arts & Frame Company.

Alfred is committed to the preservation of this neighborhood and takes pride in it prominence in the greater Detroit community. He will serve as co-chairman, with Carl Hardin, of the Social and Cultural Committee. We look forward to his participation on our board.









main breaks. The number is (313) 267-7401.
























CHECK OUT OUR OWN PERSONALIZED COMMUNITY CALENDAR

One of the easiest ways to keep up to date on what is going on in our community is to click on our own neighborhood web page at www.neighborhoodlink.com/detroit/swoodforest and then go to the section called "Community Calendar." The "Community Calendar" is updated on a weekly basis and includes the dates of meetings, special events, invitations to Sherwood Forest residents from various organizations and neighborhood groups, as well as the dates of our monthly bulk pickups. If you have an event that you would like to have included on our community calendar, call Gail Rodwan at 342-5827 or e-mail her at Rodwan@attglobal.net.



HALLOWEEN PARTY FOR CHILDREN OCTOBER 26!




NEW FISCAL YEAR FOR SHERWOOD FOREST ASSOCIATION BEGINS ON OCTOBER 1

If you have not already done so, you will soon receive in the mail a bill for $45 dollars for your annual Sherwood Forest Association dues for 2002-2003. You will note that the amount of the dues remains the same as last year. Undoubtedly, that $45 membership fee is the best bargain around. Your dues support dozens of projects and activities that help make this neighborhood a great place to live. Last year was one of the most productive in our neighborhood's history, and the Association anticipates another busy year ahead.

When your dues notice arrives, please return your payment promptly and help assure that flowers will get planted, snow will be removed from our streets, property restrictions will be enforced and your Tattler will continue to keep you informed about community issues and happenings. When you return your check, please take the time to fill out the portion of the form that asks for your e-mail address. E-mail is becoming an increasingly important link among neighbors and is the best way to disseminate vital information quickly.

If you have questions about the status of your membership, call our treasurer, Sue McMillan, at 862-6366.