Around the Neighborhood - February 2003

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The opinions expressed in these articles and features are those of their author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of McANA or the opinion of its Directors or Officers.

From the Desk of Tammara Tracy
[Pike Township Administrator]

Greetings Neighbors!

To encourage residents to dispose of waste properly, the Mayor's Dumping Initiative continues. Every Saturday from 9am-3pm, residents can take large quantities of trash or heavy, bulky items and legally dump them at 2700 S. Belmont for only $5 /truck load or $3 /carload. This is in addition to your heavy trash day each month, in which you can put out up to two heavy trash items with your regular trash. Your heavy trash day can be found here: http://arcimsnt1.indygov.org/GovntProfile/

Otherwise, all legal dumping can be done at the Southside Landfill, 2560 Kentucky Ave, 247-6808. Cost for a pick-up truckload is $16 for level load to the top of the truck sides, then $5 for each additional 6 inches.

While we are on the topic of trash, let's talk Illegal Dumping. The Solid Waste Division investigates over 2000 instances of illegally dumped trash and debris throughout Marion County. The Solid Waste Division also pursues and collects fines for illegal dumping in cooperation with the Marion County Health Department. Report Illegal Dumping immediately by calling 327-4MAC (4622). The City needs everyone's help to keep our city clean.

And finally, remember the motto of one of my childhood heroes, Woodsy the Owl: "Hoot, Hoot, Don't Pollute".

Indy Parks and Recreation has partnered with Indy Afterschool to sponsor the 51st Citywide Talent Showcase. Local youth are invited to showcase their talent in variety of categories. The preliminary round of competition will take place the week of April 14, 2003 with the final competition scheduled for Saturday, May 10, at 7:00 p.m. at the Madame Walker Theater, 617 Indiana Ave.

The talent contest is open to all Marion County youth ages 5-19 (grades K-12). Contestants may compete in one of five talent divisions: dance, instrumental music, vocal music, drama/spoken word & variety, and visual art.

Entry forms are available at all Indy Parks Family Centers and IPS, and must be postmarked by Friday, March 28, 2003. Spaces are limited to the first 35 entries received in each talent division. To receive an entry form or for more information, please call Renee Hintz at 327-PARK or e-mail rhintz@indygov.org.

"This is an opportunity for youth from all over the city to come together and show off their talents within an environment of good sportsmanship and healthy competition," said Renee Hintz, Indy Parks Arts Services coordinator. "In addition, they gain confidence, poise, showmanship and take great pride in their accomplishments."

Be Creative!

McANA Adopts Position

PROTECTION OF THE INDIANAPOLIS GREENWAYS FROM DEVELOPMENT ENCROACHMENT AND EXPLOITATION

The Marion County Alliance of Neighborhood Associations considers our system of linear parks and greenways to be strategic elements of neighborhood quality of life. These greenway corridors provide numerous benefits, but perhaps most importantly, they provide relatively unadorned surroundings in which residents can escape the often intense sensory impacts of urban life. The greenways corridors also preserve critical environmental assets which are quickly diminishing within Marion County. It is critical that our greenways be protected from the pressures of inappropriate and untimely development.

It is MCANA’s position that the City of Indianapolis should enact and implement all appropriate planning guidelines and procedures, land use regulations and/or physical design standards which would provide for the protection of our greenways corridors from various adverse impacts of development, such as noise excess light, automobile traffic, commercial signage, commercial exploitation, etc. This includes the utilization of sufficient vegetative screening and substantial buffering between the corridors and nearby intense uses and incorporating open space and less intense uses such as parks or low density residential dwellings.

Adopted February 5, 2003

The First Annual St. Joseph Historic District Neighborhood Art Fair
by Steve Nowlin
[President of the St. Joseph Historic Neighborhood Association]

We have been receiving a lot of interest regarding our plans to establish a major art/music fair in our neighborhood starting with the summer of 2004. Waiting until next year to hold our first event will give us plenty of time to put together an effective inaugural kick off for what we hope will become an annual St. Joseph Art Fair. And, it will be a lot of fun to plan, organize and see the results of our efforts pay off both as a fundraiser but also from the increased exposure of our beautiful historic neighborhood. We want to do it right the first time.

We are now forming a St. Joseph Art Fair Committee and ask for you to join us. Everyone has something they can offer to help us make this a successful event: professional skills, interests/hobbies, contacts, creativity or simply the desire to be part of an exciting group effort. Won’t you consider joining our committee? Call me at A Rare Find Gallery, 822-4159 or email me at historymakers@indy.rr.com.

One More 'Most Important Issue'

Last month we ran a feature article that listed McANA Directors and Officers’ opinions on the ‘most important issue facing Indianapolis in 2003’. We inadvertently left off the opinion of Bev Rifleman, Director for Pike Township. She says, “I feel one of the greatest problems facing neighborhoods in Indianapolis. is transportation!”