The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About02-2011 Newsletter sou BEND mot v thle&1L� FEBRUARY 2011 Letter from the Mayor THIS MONTH... Mayor's Letter City Events Total crime reaches record low for second year SB Parks Summer Camp Tree Sale Free Tax Assistance Winter Safety Tips Dear Friends and Neighbors, St. Patrick's Day Parade When thieves stole a tandem bicycle from my garage last summer,the experience was particularly frustrating.More than what physically was City Events. stolen,the vandals took something else from us.Each crime erodes our sense of community and quality of life. This is something to which friends and neighbors who've experienced the violation of a criminal act can attest.It is why we work so hard to reduce crime in our community. I share my story to underscore new statistics I've just received for 2010 rsxFOxMxi G warns iv rf-a from the South Bend Police Department. They show that—for the second March 1 Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith consecutive year—incidents of major crime in South Bend at their lowest 2 Friends Tour 7:30p levels in at least 40 years.Reported crime declined 3 percent when March 5 James Taylor in concert 8:00p compared with 2009. In five categories—total major crimes,murders, March 10 Barney's Birthday Bash non-residential burglaries,larcenies and motor vehicle thefts—reported 3p and 6:30p incidents reached record lows.In addition,the number of rapes fell 23 March 12 Larry The Cable Guy percent to reach the lowest level during my time in office. 2 performances March 18-19 Broadway Theatre League Despite these highly encouraging numbers,one crime category remains a Presents "The Color Purple" significant challenge. There was an 11 percent increase in residential Fri. at 8p, Sat. at 2p and 8p burglaries last year.Although the number of burglaries is still lower than March 20 Willie Nelson in Concert,7:30p when I took office,they remain a critical concern for my administration. March 24-25 South Bend Symphony With additional resources from the public safety tax and the federal Youth concerts stimulus,Police Chief Darryl Boykins created a street crimes unit,which March 26 South Bend Symphony Pops, 8p allows him to put more officers on the street in areas of need. These April 2nd R&B comedy Explosion featuring tactics and good,old-fashioned police work have helped our officers to The Whispers, 8p identify and arrest more burglars,including clearing four separate April 8`" Styx,Blue Oyster Cult and Mark burglary rings operating in the city. Famer,(formerly of I am proud of the fact that South Bend is a safer community today than Grand Funk Railroad, 8p when I took office and the safest it has been in a generation.Although April 9th South Bend Symphony this great news is tempered by a rise in residential burglaries, South Bend Masterworks, 8p April 15 Celtic Woman, 8p benefits from a vigilant citizenry and a highly professional police force. April 17`" Bill Maher,7:30p Still, as long as I am mayor, any resident's experience of victimization by April 29-30 Broadway Theatre League crime will be one too many.With public safety as the City's No. 1 "Legally Blond,the Musical" commitment, South Bend Police will remain focused on keeping our Fri. at 8p, Sat. at 2p and 8p community safe.With your help in talking to your neighbors and Downtown South Send reporting suspicious activity,we can continue to build upon this positive trend. March 4: First Fridays. www.DtsbFirstFridays.com Sincerely, March 11: St.Paddy's Tent Party& Pub "'-- Tour Enjoy live Rock n' Roll under the tent and take part in the popular Mayor Steve Pub Tour featuring unique downtown restaurants, Visit Our Website at www.SouthBendlXgov! bars and clubs. Continued on backside City Events continued I / Free Federal and State Tax First GREEN of Preparation Assistance Spring! NNN OFFICE: In partnership with the March 12: �� University of Notre Dame-St. Mary's Tax St.Patrick's Day J Assistance Program. Families with an annual Parade& Events income of$40,000 or less are eligible to have their tax returns prepared by accounting students from Little Leprechaun Contest and Notre Dame. There will be a team of three,Greening of the East Race — Downtown RRocks!I every 10:30am Wednesday evening from 5:30-8:00pm,Feb. 16 Friday, March 11 5— 11 pm April 13,except on March 16. Paddy's Day Parade—11:OOam $5 per person at the tent NNN,Inc. 1007 Portage Ave,SB 232-9182 Greening of the East Race, at (must be 21 or older to attend) Seitz Park,following the parade. Tent Party performances by AARP/UNITED WAY: United Way and the �i The Parks Department Stillshot and Blessed Engine Tri-County Tax Team,in partnership with the (/ kicks it off with a Little AARP Tax-Aide program, offers free e-file tax For more information,visit preparation services for seniors and those with Leprechaun Contest for www.PaddyParty.com or call 9 kids aged 27 on low to moderate incomes.Available Feb 2.—Apr �� 574.282.1110 14. Pre-registration is required,in person,no Jefferson Blvd. at Howard Park. Next,the sooner than week before each session for ARRP parade steps off at 11:00 services. United Way's Volunteer Income Tax P P Ice Cycle Alert! Assistance(VITA),an IRS-certified program on Jefferson,just west of Eddy Street, proceeding west to Howard Park,then It's that time of year, again. provides free income tax preparation assistance to north on Niles Avenue and ending at Icicles can be beautiful. We individuals and families with a low-to-moderate Seitz Park with the annual FSddler's even try to emulate their income (less than(49,000)VITA helps taxpayers Hearth beauty, at times. However, obtain eligible tax credits and deductions, Greening of the East Race. Special the appearance of these especially EITC,Child,Education, and Child Care entertainment and surprises will follow! beautiful ice columns tells tax deductions. Anyone who needs to file a basic Partners: another story. A properly itemized tax return can have taxes prepared at one South Bend Parks&Recreation insulated home or business of the VITA sites after Feb 15th. For an Downtown South Bend, Inc. should never have icicles. appointment or information about VITA and South Bend Central Services They are a telltale sign of dates,times and locations call the United Way's South Bend Fire Dept. Heat loss through the roof. toll-free line 2-1-1,between 8am and 5pm The solution: adding weekdays. Contact Dawn: 574.232.8201 x 228 FREE insulation to your attic space. dchapla@uwsjc. or Laura: 74.232.8201x248 COMPOSTING Upgrading poorly insulated lstangfellow@,uwsjc.org or attic areas can pay for ww w.uwsic.com/our-imi)act/vita.html WORKSHOP itself often in as little as Thursday,March 24 one heating/cooling Michiana Summer Camp Fair season. Yes, attic insulation A free composting saves on cooling costs as information session with Rick Glassman well! Attic insulation is an } of the Soil and Water Conservation excellent way to reduce District will take place at the St.Joseph energy consumption and put Public Library in the Colfax Auditorium money back in your pocket! from 6:00 pm—7:30 pm There will be a Local Home Improvement Michiana Area Summer Camps d Michiana Families drawing for free backyard composting Contractors can assist you in Check out summer camps from around the region bins,compliments of the Solid Waste this process. Good luck and Saturday,February 26,2011; loam-fpm Management District.Reservations let's hear it for artificial icicles! only, so call now to reserve a seat The Century Center 574-291-2300 ext.3. SI USTED NO ENTIENDE 120 5 St.Joseph Street,South Bend,IN SWCD Tree Sale INGMS YNECESITA A YUDA Deadline is Mar.10 for re-orders. For PAPA TRADUCIR ESTE Free Event!Come join the fun!You could win a FREE week of camp! P DOCUMENTO,O SI TIENE For more information call the South Bend Parks&Recreation Dept at(574)299-0765. more information and a list of available ALGUNAREGUNTA,POR species of trees,call 291-7444 x.3 or FAVORLLAMEALTEMFONO Orvisitusatwwwsbpark.arg visit ww.stjoseph.iaswcd.org (574)235-5858X1000. PARKS&RECREATION aEPARMEM Please recycle this paper and help Build a Clean-Green City!