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Home My WebLink About02-2007 Newsletter SOUTHA11 . BEND FEBRUARY 2007 12 - Mayon ST 1. LucckT r! Letter from the Mayor THISMONTH... Mayor's Letter Hometown Spot&ght Morris Spring Schedule Dear friends and neighbors, City Celebration- March 29 Downspout Disconnect As I write this letter, it seems that winter is finally upon us. The recent snow, St. Joe River Cleanup frosting streets and buildings,reminds me of what a beautiful city we live in. But my pride in our city goes much deeper than that. I find it in the hard work and • • • • • • • • • • • • • • dedication of our neighborhood organizations,business owners and City employ- ees. Our community is filled with people who strive each day to improve and develop every sector of our hometown. Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on one such neighborhood and its dedicated businesses, organizations and residents. : PERPORMING ARTS CENTER For thirty-two years, the Near Northwest Neighborhood, Inc. has been SPRING SCIiEDIILE dedicated to preserving and revitalizing its service area,improving the quality of life . for its residents. 2006 was a banner year for the organization, as the NNN • March impacted twenty-eight properties. Eight were sold to homeowners, with one sale . 2 Comedian Rickey Smiley pending while the other homes,building, lots, and greenspaces are in the pipeline 3 Comedian Brian Regan for future revitalization. In addition,NNN has transformed the 1000 block of . 7 Tyler Perry's"What's Done in the . PortageAvenue through the acquisition and rehabilitation often single-family Dads homes and in collaboration with the City has purchased and demolished several . 9 South Bend Symphony Pops . dilapidated and underutilized commercial buildings in the 800 block. presents"Hot Cuban Jazz" In partnership with Memorial Hospital,they developed new greenspace at the . 10 Goo Goo Dolls with Augustana . corner of Lafayette Blvd. and Lamonte Terrace. It is a great complement to the 11 MercyMe with Audio Adrenaline& Aaron Shust neighborhood and to Leeper Park. Another success is the Cottage Grove revitaliza- 17 Umphrey's McGee in Concert tion project, where the NNN has rehabilitated four properties, built one new house, 22 ND presents Bulgarian State Opera and is currently in the process of rehabilitating three additional properties. A total . "LeNozze di Figare" of six new families now own homes in Cottage Grove area because of the work of Chicago the Musical the Near Northwest Neighborhood, Inc. This block was host to the 2006 Arts • 31 South Bend Symphony Orchestra Cafe event. presents"Nathan's Back"featuring I am especially proud to highlight the national recognition that the NNN, in • Nathan Gunn collaboration with the City,received for the Adopt-A-Block program. This pro- gram was designed in 2003, as a part of my "Clean City Initiative",to foster a • April partnership between the City and neighborhood residents who were committed to 0 1 Harry Co man Jr. 12 Celtic Woman keeping our communities clean. Through the program,the City provides rakes, 21 South Bend Symphony Orchestra trash bags and trash removal to community teams who "adopt" blocks that they : presents`Bmhms&Hiegel—Grand pledge to keep clean. The program has been a heartwarming success and now premiere" covers 40 blocks and over 25 resident block captains. Lincolnway West forms the southern border of the NNN. This vital commer- May cial corridor has found new life through strong public-private partnerships. in 1 Comedian Ron White 2006, South Bend Heritage Foundation transformed Smitty's Garage into Studio 4-5 Joseph&the Amazing Technicolor � Dreamcoat � 815, an art exhibition and classroom space for people of all ages. A few years ago, D South Bend Symphony Orchestra the Lincolnway West Steering Committee and South Bend Heritage Foundation : presents`Tomdze Piano Festival" were instrumental in demolishing a nuisance property and attracting a new . 19 Styx in Concert Teacher's Credit Union branch. In 2006 they reached out again,helping the Fire Department develop plans for Fire Station#2, set to open this year. City and local New events are always being business leaders also worked together to beautify Lincolnway West through the . added, so be sure to check our website . placement of permanent flower planters. : at www.MorrisCenter.om for the latest Many of the changes on Lincolnway West have been made possible by the • on the Hottest Tickets in Town, or call Commercial Corridor Fagade Improvement Matching Grant Program. In Decem- . the Morris Box Office at 235-9190. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (cont'd on next page) (Mayor's Letter cont'd from previous page) her I was thrilled to hold a news conference outside of the newly enhanced Gene's rmw,Camera Store. I was joined by the owner, Mr. St. Pierre, as well as members of the Common Council and local leaders. Through this program, we have been able to award 40+ improvement grants to Lincolnway West businesses over the last five years,bringing over a million dollars in public/private investment to Lincolnway West. Of course, none of this great development would have been possible without the key financial support of the Common Council. I want to thank them for their contin- FREE DOWNSPOUT ued cooperation and shared spirit of optimism. DISCONNECTION I am heartened by the dedication to South Bend that I see from people all over the city. In the coming year we will be using this newsletter to feature a"Hometown If the downspouts on your home disappear into the ground,there is a Spotlight". We will call attention to many of the people and organizations that are working tirelessly to improve our city. And I will continue to work with them to good chance that they are connected to the City sewer system, causing make South Bend neighborhoods safer, cleaner and better environments for our children and families. sewers to receive both waste and rain Sincerely, water.A single residence can deposit as much as 27,000 gallons of rain water to the system each year! Mayor Steve During heavy rainfall and melting snow, this combined sewer overflow can cause flooding, sewer backup into C1T*y el*P b aT * basements, and odors that escape into r— l O the air through downspouts rather v *1 1 than remaining underground. 2 0 0 7 • I N S O U T H B To help reduce these occurrences, MARCHMUSEUMMADNESS&DINEDOWNTOWN City residents are urged to call the Local Museums to Stay Open Late for your Visit! Division of Engineering to sign up for Ever wondered what a museum is like at night? Now you can find out! Our a free downspout disconnection. The friends at the South Bend Regional Museum of Art,HealthWorks! Kids'Museum, the City will send a two-person crew to College Football Hall of Fame, the Northern Indiana Center for History,and the disconnect the downspout, cap the Studebaker National Museum will be leaving out the welcome mat until 8:00pm on entry pipe to the sewer, and redirect Thursday, March 29, 2007 - it's March Museum Madnessf the downspout to release rain water When planning your visits,be sure to make time to Dine Downtown at one of our into the yard,where it is naturally fine unique restaurants -you'll find something to suit every taste, from Asian to absorbed into the ground. A Italian to Irish to American. For a complete list of downtown restaurants, visit downspout disconnection can cost as downtownsouthbend.com or call 282-1110. much as $200, but this service is March Museum Madness&Dine Downtown is part of South Bend City offered at no charge to South Bend Celebration 2007. For more information,please visit SBCityCelebration.com,or call residents. Since the program began in 235-9798 or 235-9951. 2004, we have disconnected 390 homes from the combined system, reducing our overflow volume by over Friends of the St. Joe River 10.5 million gallons! 2 ANNUAL RIVER CLEANUP Working together we can help eliminate sewer backups and Saturday, March 31, 2007 . 9 AM - 1 PM overflows. If you have a downspout Dress appropriately: lon g P ants,long sleeves,rugged work shoes,work gloves(water- connected to the sewer system, please proofifpossible). Trash bags and drinking water will be provided. call 235-9251 to have your home disconnected, free of charge, and help p4 2ML ST J CHECK-IN Veteran's ' III Park, make South Bend a"Clean City." zoos �� Northside North Blvd. Oust west of IFUSB) Tools: Any additional trash-moving tools are welcome,such as pickup SI USTED NO ENTIENDE BQGLES Y }_ trucks,wheelbarrows,rakes,sledgehammers,chains,pickaxes,etc. A SI UST D NO E TIENDE RADUCIR 3%,cAry oo°p nail stuck in an old tool handle works well for picking up trash without ESTE DOCUMENTO, O SI TIENE bending over,and takes five minutes to make. ALGUNA CUMEN O, POR FAVOR Tins Friends of Or St.Joe River event is cosponsorzd by the Iznik Walton League and Michimn 1Patershed LL GUN AL EG NTA,P R THON RAIN OR SHINE! •www.fotsiror (ASISTENTE DEL ALCALDE) AL Want more details? Call Mike Hay at(574) 271-0973 TELEFONO(574)235-5858 X 1000. Visit Our Website at www.SouthBendIN.gov!