Sherwood Forest

May 2004

Apr 19, 2004

OUR ANNUAL MEETING WILL BE HELD ON MAY 11

The annual meeting of the Sherwood Forest Association will be held on Tuesday, May 11, at All Saints Church, West Seven Mile Road. We are pleased to announce that our special speakers will be two of our own residents who have special expertise to share on two separate tax questions.

 John Corvino is an active member of the Detroit Tax Forum. The forum is an organization made up of residents of many Detroit neighborhoods, including Sherwood Forest, who have come together because they are concerned that our high property taxes make it increasingly difficult for Detroit to attract and retain homeowners. John will tell us about the various political and legal avenues the forum is pursuing to address this problem and what we can do to help.

 Cordell Ross and his wife Teresina bought a charming house on Shrewsbury that needed some work. Their dedicated renovation efforts have paid off. They have transformed the home AND received a 25% state income tax credit. One of the benefits of our historic designation is this special tax credit for improvements to historic properties. If you think it is just too much trouble to go through the process that is required to obtain this state tax credit, you will want to hear from Cordell Ross. He will ?“demystify?” the tax credit procedure for all of us.
The schedule for the May 11 meeting is as follows:

6:30 p.m. ?– Potluck supper. Bring a hot dish, a salad, dessert or bread for eight to ten people. Everything else will be provided.

7:30 p.m.?—Business meeting and welcoming of new residents. Special guest speakers.

A representative of Pinkerton Security Services will be present at the meeting to respond to questions and concerns about the patrol service.

If you would like to assist with the potluck supper, or if you have questions, call Florence Gantz at 861-1315.

Remember that even if you cannot make it to the 6:30 potluck supper, your presence at the 7:30 meeting is important to all of us.

We look forward to meeting neighbors, old and new, on Tuesday, May 11.

Lois Primas, President
Michele Davis, Vice-President
Sherwood Forest Association

PROTECTION AGAINST HIGH INSURANCE RATES

Increasing homeowner and automobile insurance premiums are outpacing inflation by more than a two to one ratio. The State Insurance Commissioner?’s office has a complaint process available to those who feel they have been unfairly targeted for large rate increases.
The Insurance Rate Disparity Form is available online at http://www.Michigan.gov/documents/cis ofis fis 0035 76202 7.pdf, or call 1-888-937-4453 to receive your form by mail.


GIVE US YOUR WEB ADDRESS AND WE WILL SEND YOU INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR HISTORIC HOME

Recently, the Detroit Historic District Commission send us some fascinating information about every home in Sherwood Forest, including the names of the architect and builder, the date the home was built, and the home?’s historic name (if it has one). We were able to send this information only to those residents for whom we have e-mail addresses.

This is only one example of the kind of information we would like to share with everyone in Sherwood Forest. Don?’t miss out! Send your e-mail address today to: Rodwan@sbcglobal.net. An increasing number of special notices and bulletins are going only to our e-mail subscribers only. We can?’t mail out a Tattler every time we learn something relevant to our residents. We can keep you up to date, however, if we know your e-mail address.


ELECTION NOTICE

The Board of Directors of the Sherwood Forest Association is made up of fifteen members, with each member serving a three-year term. The terms are staggered so that the terms of five of the fifteen members expire each year.

It is the time of year when we elect five members to the board. According to the by-laws, nominations to these positions are made in the following ways:

1. By recommendation of the nominating committee.
2. By any five members of the association nominating a candidate by the following procedure:
a. Obtain the consent of the candidate to serve.
b. Furnish a letter containing the name of the candidate to a member of the nominating committee no later than May 3, 2004. The letter must be signed by at least five association members and should include the candidate?’s address, occupation and a brief statement of his or her interest and aspirations for Sherwood Forest.

Candidates must be willing and able to attend monthly meetings and participate in committee work. Each board member has at least one committee assignment. We encourage residents to run for these positions. Our board and community are only as strong as the residents who volunteer their time and talent to help maintain Sherwood Forest. Only members of the Sherwood Forest Association may participate in the election. Call our treasurer, Sue McMillan, at 862-8388, to verify that your dues are paid.

Respectfully,

Marcia Baum and Gail Rodwan
Nominating Committee

WATER DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES INCREASED RATES

The cost of maintaining and upgrading an aging system is the driving force behind an increase in water and sewer rates that will take effect on July 1, 2004. City residents will see a 16.9 percent increase, while suburban residents will see, on average, a 3.9 percent increase. A Detroit retail customer who uses the system average of 7,500 gallons of water per month will pay an increase of $6.46 per month.

Like other older metropolitan systems across the country, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department must made substantial upgrades to keep the system running while meeting increasingly stringent federal and state environmental requirements.

?“100 year-old water pipes crack and spring leaks. 100 year-old sewer lines crack and become blocked, and we have to fix them,?” reports Water Department Director Victor Mercado. Three of the larger capital projects planned involve modernizing the Wastewater Treatment Plant, updating the department?’s computer systems and more effectively dealing with sewer overflows during storms.

If you would like to learn more about the department?’s plans to upgrade, go to www.ci.detroi.mi.us and click on ?“Water and Sewerage.?”
DETROIT HISTORICAL MUSEUM
CELEBRATES 75TH ANNIVERSARY

The Golden Age of the 1920s will be marked by a 1920s weekend as the Detroit Historical Museum celebrates its 75th Anniversary from April 23-25. The museum will transform itself into the Woodward Speakeasy on the evening of Friday, April 23. On Saturday, there will be a ?“History Hunt?” at Historic Fort Wayne, and on Sunday there will be an Ice Cream Social and an afternoon of family fun at the museum. For information about the weekend schedule, as well as other special events, log on to www.detroithistorical.org or call (313) 833-1405.

FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

Some of our residents recently attended a meeting with the new DPW director, James Johnson. Mr. Johnson stressed that bulk pickup regulations will be more stringently enforced, and violators will be given citations for infractions like putting Courville containers out at the curb earlier than the night before bulk pickup (which occurs on the 4th Monday of the month). Yard waste must not be placed in Courvilles, but must be put aside for separate handling. Remember that our Neighborhood City Hall now has the power to issue tickets for Courville violations and for abandoned vehicles as well. Call (313) 578-7580.

CALLING ALL GARDENERS

Springtime brings the opportunity for you to contribute to the beauty of our neighborhood by volunteering to help maintain one of our pocket parks now and throughout the summer. You can also help by donating bulbs and flowers. Call Florence Gantz at (313) 861-1315.

PATROL SERVICE BEGINS NEW FISCAL
YEAR ON JUNE 1

You will soon receive a bill in the mail for patrol dues. Please take advantage of the ?“Early Bird Special?” and return your payment before June 1. You will save money on your dues and experience no interruption in service. You will notice that we are working hard to keep the rates low. There will be no increase in the rates this year. If you have questions about the status of your membership, contact Gordon Rodwan at Rodwan@sbcglobal.net.

Thank You to the Vances: Everyone who attended the ?“Spring Is Just Around the Corner?” party at the Berkeley home of Pat and Bill Vance on March 14 thanks the Vances for their warm and gracious hospitality. We had such a good time that we plan to have another similar event soon. If you would like to offer your home or yard for a neighborhood gathering, call the chairperson of our Social Committee, Alfred Greene, Jr., at (313) 861-6286.


THIRD ANNUAL FLOWER SALE FOR GESU COMMUNITY GREEN

Gesu Community Green is a neighborhood park at Oak Drive and McNichols. Although it is located in University District, it is open to the residents of surrounding neighborhoods, including Sherwood Forest.

The annual flower sale, which helps to pay for the maintenance of this park, will be held on Friday, May 14, from 3-6 p.m.; Saturday, May 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, May 16, from 9 a.m. to noon. Through your support of this sale, you can beautify your own home and support a neighborhood treasure.

COMMUNITY FORUM ON APRIL 24

The 12th Precinct Neighborhood Coalition is sponsoring a community forum on the city?’s new civil infraction procedures. The forum will be held on Saturday, April 24, at 10 a.m. at New Prospect Baptist Church, Livernois at Pembroke. Representatives of the Detroit Police Department, DPW, Environmental Affairs and Buildings and Safety Engineering will be present to explain how community associations and individuals can support this new process for dealing with trash, dumping, abandoned vehicle and other threats to the safety and beauty of our city. Please try to attend!


BULK PICKUP DAYS ARE:

Monday, April 26
Monday, May 24
Monday, June 28


GENERAL MEETING OF THE SHERWOOD FOREST ASSOCIATION

Tuesday, May 11

All Saints Church