Sherwood Forest

September 2004

Sep 06, 2004

WORKING TOGETHER TO
ASSURE OUR SAFETY

We in Sherwood Forest count ourselves fortunate to live in a beautiful and tranquil community. Yet we are not immune from the challenges of our larger community, including challenges to our security.

During the month of August, two of our homes were broken into and there was an attempted break-in at a third. In the attempt, someone rang a front doorbell, the home owner was present but did not answer, the intended-intruder walked to the back of the house and broke or attempted to break a window, the homeowner appeared, and the person fled. The incident occurred on a Sunday morning.

In one of the break-ins, the intruder entered through a basement window, and apparently was thwarted by the sound of the home alarm. No one was home, and nothing was taken. The incident occurred on a Sunday morning.

The other break-in occurred on a weekday when no one was home. The intruder or intruders gained entry through a window at the back of the house. The house was then unlocked from the inside, and items were removed from the home.

Here is what your Sherwood Forest Association has done in response to these incidents:

 Arranged to get crime statistical reports from the Twelfth Precinct each month just before the monthly meetings of the Board of Directors of the Sherwood Forest Association so we can analyze not only what is occurring in our community but in surrounding communities as well. (Palmer Woods has also experienced some recent incidents.)
 Requested a greater police presence in the neighborhood.
 Directed our security patrol drivers to be particularly aware of suspicious walkers or drivers in the neighborhood and to write down the license numbers of unfamiliar vehicles.
 Opened lines of communication with representatives of surrounding neighborhoods so we can quickly and accurately share information with one another.
 Began a reassessment of the most efficient use of our private patrol service: Is it better to have the car on the street during the night or during the day? Do we need to increase the hours of service? If so, how do we pay for that increase when so many of our neighbors are reluctant to join the patrol?

Most important, we are informing our residents, through this Tattler, that we cannot afford to be complacent. Be the eyes and ears of the neighborhood. Notice what is going on at your neighbor?’s house. Report anything that is even slightly suspicious to the police and to the patrol driver. Be alert to your surroundings.

This most certainly is not a crime wave, but it is a wake-up call. Sherwood Forest is not exempt from the security concerns of other
neighborhoods. Can you help? Do you have ideas for making our wonderful community even safer than it is today? If you do, please call me or any member of the Board of Directors of the Sherwood Forest Association. Let?’s start a dialogue about safety.

Lois E. Primas
President, Sherwood Forest Association
863-0167

THANKS TO ALL WHO WORKED ON
THE AUGUST BACK-TO-SCHOOL PARTY

On August 22, Sherwood Forest children of all ages were feted at a party to celebrate the beginning of the new school year. Thank you to Wendy Baxter for offering her beautiful yard for the party. Thanks, too, to Sharon Rhodes, Liz and John Davis and the many other adults who helped to make this a memorable afternoon for our young neighborhood scholars.

Al Greene
Social Committee Chairperson


THE SOUND OF SILENCE

Have you ever sat on your back porch or patio with the newspaper on an early Sunday morning only to have your quiet hour of reading interrupted by the sounds of a neighbor?’s lawnmower or leaf blower? Has the arrival of a well-equipped lawn crew ever stopped conversation at a barbecue with friends? If so, you may agree with some of your neighbors who are suggesting that we should promote ?“quiet hours?” in the neighborhood. Should we begin a campaign to encourage residents and their lawn services NOT to begin work until after 9:00 a.m. and to stop the use of noisy equipment by 6:00 p.m.? And should there be restricted week-end hours?

With the arrival of fall comes the sound of leaf blowers ?– and an expression of concerns by some of our neighbors who place great value on the peacefulness of their own yards. What do YOU think? Is this an issue you would like to pursue? And if so, how can we most effectively pursue it? Please share your thought with any member of the Board of Directors of the Sherwood Forest Association.

TRICK-OR-TREATING IN SHERWOOD FOREST ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31

If you want to have trick-or-treaters come to your home on Sunday, 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.

GREENACRES PUMPKIN DAY

Kids and parents, are you ready for some Halloween fun? Greenacres will celebrate Pumpkin Day on Saturday, October 23, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Hyde Park, just north of the intersection of Pembroke and Canterbury, and everyone in Sherwood Forest is invited.

Dress up in your favorite Halloween costume, and come buy a pumpkin or two. Then enter the pumpkin painting contest. Enjoy cider and donuts, and bob for apples. Have your face painted. Take home the perfect pumpkin for your Halloween jack-o-lantern.

For more information about Pumpkin Day, call Anita Flies at 862-7921.

TREATS IN THE STREETS

Celebrate Halloween and step back in time as the Detroit Historical Society presents the third annual ?“Treats in the Streets?” in the Streets of Old Detroit exhibit at the Detroit Historical Museum. The date is Sunday, October 24, and the hours are 2-4 p.m. Kids of all ages are invited to dress up as their favorite hero, character, historical figure, ghost or goblin. There will be fun activities, including ?“Cleary?’s Clearly Amazing Magic Show.?” Admission is free to every child who comes in costume. For more information, call (313) 833-4727.


A HALLOWEEN MESSAGE FROM
THE MAYOR?’S OFFICE

Every year, Detroiters have turned on porch lights and ?“adopted?” 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 around Halloween. This year, the effort will cover the three-night period from October 29-31. If you can help, please call special number (313)244-4415 or go to www.angelsnight.org.

Each of us can help in small ways by leaving porch and other outside lights on between dusk and dawn on October 29 through October 31 and by calling emergency number 911 to report criminal activity. The Detroit Fire Department has an arson tip line at (313)962-7766.

Parents of children under the age of eighteen are reminded that a curfew will be in effect on October 30 and 31 between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Children who are out during those hours are to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Check the above web page for information about city-sponsored Halloween parties for children.

YARD SIGNS

Sherwood Forest Property Restrictions include the following restriction, entitled ?“Use of Property?”:

?“The property and buildings in the Subdivision . . . shall not be used for any trade, business or occupation or employment (or uses incident thereto), or for apartment, multiple residential or boarding house use. No advertising sign, billboard, or other advertising device shall be permitted, erected, placed or maintained at any time upon said premises other than the normal and usual ?“For Sale?” sign incident to the sale of property.?”

This restriction does not prohibit the placement of political, as opposed to commercial, signs on residential property.

Focus:HOPE WALK 2004

Focus:HOPE 2004 will be held on Sunday, October 10. This annual walk through Detroit and Highland Park promotes harmony and diversity in our community. You can register for the walk online at www.focushope.edu or by calling (313) 494-5500.

KEEP SHERWOOD FOREST BEAUTIFUL

Help keep our neighborhood looking beautiful, clean and litter-free. Be considerate of your neighbors by not putting garbage, including items for bulk pick-up, out at the curb until the evening before pick-up. Our next bulk pick-up days are:

Monday, September 27

Monday, October 25

Remember that bulk is collected on the fourth Monday of each month, and the fourth Monday is not always the last Monday of the month.

THIS OLD HOUSE

Enclosed with this month?’s paper Tattler is an updated ?“This Old House?” list. E-mail subscribers can access the list by going to www.neighborhoodlink.com/detroit/swoodforest and clicking on ?“This Old House.?” While recipients of the paper version of the Tattler get the list only once a year, e-mail subscribers can access the most up-to-date version whenever they need it. This is just one of many good reasons to become an e-mail subscriber. If you have not already done so, please send your e-mail address to rodwan@sbcglobal.net. You will get the most current neighborhood news ?– much of which is news that is disseminated to our e-mail subscribers only.

The ?“This Old House?” list exists because it is not always easy to find competent and reputable contractors to work on our beautiful historic homes. There is nothing better than a recommendation from a neighbor who has used and been pleased with a contractor?’s services. We welcome your recommendations for additions to this list. If you have a bad experience with someone on the list, we want to know that as well. Please send your recommendations to rodwan@sbcglobal.net.

ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THE SHERWOOD FOREST ASSOCIATION?
THE NEW FISCAL YEAR BEGINS ON OCTOBER 1, 2004.

ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THE PATROL?
WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING MEMBERS FOR 2004.