By Wolt Hood, President
As we look around we see familiar signs of what we Minnesotans love the most and that is our four seasons. As the gray hair becomes more pronounced, winter is becoming less desirable to me. It is wonderful to see the KPHA neighbors out running, biking, or just walking their favorite pooch. And to see all in their front yards nurturing our flower beds seeing who will have the first tulips. I think Bill and Betty Hardacher had the first early ones with other neighbors close behind.
For any of you new neighbors that moved in over the winter, you are part of our organization and we are looking for volunteers who can help with our four or five activities during the year.
FINANCIAL NEWS
Susan McArdle Hood filled out the neighborhood grant proposal for the year 2010. We filed for $1725.00 for all the events. We were approved for $1525.00 which is great. Jim Shimota, our treasurer, stated we had approximately $400.00 in our checking account not including any city grant money. For those of you not familiar you have to spend the money and have the event , then turn in a voucher to be reimbursed. We have to provide receipts.
We have spent about $300.00 to date including the following:
1. Flowers etc at Kilmer Pond Entrance $100.00
2. Garage Sale= Advertize in Mpls Star and printing $200.00
3. Computer Consulting for Homepage $200.00
We have spent about $300.00 to date including the following:
1. Flowers etc at Kilmer Pond Entrance $100.00
2. Garage Sale= Advertize in Mpls Star and printing $200.00
3. Computer Consulting for Homepage $200.00
We cited the following events our KPHA neighborhood will participate in during 2010:
EVENTS
Spring Clean Up
We walk the common areas (Kilmer Pond and the islands) and pick up all trash and dead limbs. We help Be Phan if he wants maintaining the Kilmer Rose Garden at the Pond. KPHA furnishes coffee and rolls or donuts.
Date: Not completed
Kilmer Pond Garage Sales
Historically it has been quite large with up to 30-5- homes participating. If the demand is there, KPHA will pay for the advertisements in the paper. We have the garage sale signs for directing to the garage sales. Volunteers needed. We had this event this year and there was minimal participation so next year we are thinking about only having a one day sale if any. We paid for an advertisement and made up directions signs by Jean Giere.
Date: June 2010
Summer BBQ at the Pond
We have games for the kids, facepainting, and usually visitors from the St. Louis Park Fire Dept. and the St. Louis Pak Police Departments. The kids love to crawl into the vehicles. Hot dogs and chips with non alcoholic beverages.
Date: July 2010
National Night Out
It is a national event and we will have block parties on each street. Furnish your grills and get to know your neighbors. Each block provides their own grub!
Date: August 3rd, 2010
Back to School Ice Cream Social
KPHA furnishes ice cream and pie for all as we settle in for fall and the coming winter solstice. We would love to have back to school door prizes if any of you have connections.
Date: August 28th, 2010
Halloween Hayride
(Ghosts and Goblins) A favorite event where we hire Bunker Hills Stables and they bring out two horses an a hay wagon. They take the kids all around our neighborhood for two hours. Parents must sign a disclaimer and accompany their child to assure good behavior.
Date: October 31st, 2010
ONLINE NEWS
The new website is up and running -
www.kilmerpondnews.blogspot.com
We are joining the green generation and not printing the newsletter unless you don't have a computer or the desire to use it. Please send us your email address so you will receive our infrequent newsletter and learn about any issues that affect us as neighbors.
Send your email to lmkscott@msn.com to be included in future online updates.
REAL ESTATE ACTIVITY IN KILMER POND AREA
Active Home Sales
1604 Kilmer Ave S (5BR/2BA/2.5 car garage) $279,000
1400 Jordan Ave S (3BR/1BA/1 car garage)
REMINDERS FOR DOG OWNERS
In St. Louis Park, all dogs are required to be on a leash. You are responsible for picking up any fecal deposits left by your dog. I carry the plastic bags given us by the newspaper and they work great.
NEW COMMITTEES
KPHA Bike Club
Charles Leighton has agreed to help our group by working with any people interested in biking. He has agreed to offer bike classes on maintenance and biking safety. From there depending upon the interest, we can have biking trips to downtown Minneapolis or wherever. His phone number is 952-546-1013. He lives at 1300 Kilmer Avenue.
KPHA Garden Club
Due to walking my dog, Buster, I have had the opportunity of viewing some beautiful yards and getting to know the neighbors. We really have some green thumbs, For those of you newcomers, KPHA used to be well known for its garden club which would have plant sales on an annual basis. A neighbor, Andrea Heier and her husband have green thumbs and want to join the garden group. We are looking for people to join up in the committees. Andrea’s phone number is 952-593-0672. Lets get organized and have plant swaps and interact with other garden clubs in the Metro Area.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Ideally we would like one KPHA member to take responsibility for an event and then get volunteers to help from the area. For example, Spring clean up is simply, we walk the pond and pick up all the winter trash left and haul any old branches or limbs to the curb for city pickup. KPHA provides coffee and donuts.
We also need volunteers for block captains. Each block captain takes responsibility for approximately 20 homes and keeps a current list. You deliver welcome to the neighborhood packets. You may also be requested to deliver the KPHA Newsletter which comes out usually quarterly.
We need volunteers to think of new events for our children such as during the holiday season or maybe an Easter Egg Hunt at Kilmer Pond.
Or volunteers with any ideas to make the KPHA a better place to live? For example, an Open House for Kilmer where we show off what we have done to our homes. It would really help the newcomers and confirm they bought great houses in a superb neighborhood.
Finally, we need a volunteer to keep us posted on any educational issues for the school district that could affect us. We would want you to write articles which we would publish.
Any interest in volunteering contact:
Wolly Hood or Susan McArdle/Hood @ 612-281-6781 or 612-281-6791
KPHA ANNUAL MEETING
At Wolt and Susan Hood's house at 1631 Melrose Ave S. All newcomers are welcome and no experience required. What a chance to meet some new neighbors.
July 18th, 2010 @ 7pm
