SNA

Last full Waterfire of the season

This Saturday, October 9th.

The last full Waterfire of the season will be the “Flames of Hope” to benefit breast cancer.  This is always a particularly special Waterfire event each year.  And right down the hill!  Proximity to Waterfire is another reason to love our neighborhood, isn’t it?

There is a partial lighting scheduled for October 20, which will be the final event of this season.

By SNA Admin, ago

Some other candidate forums going on around town

East Side, West Side

Meet the Candidates

Your neighbors and Brown University have organized seven forums around Providence to hear candidates for Congress, Governor, General Assembly, Mayor and City Council

WEST SIDE, Tuesday, October 5th (7 p.m.)

West Broadway Neighborhood Association, 1560 Westminster Street (near the Armory)

State Senator Juan Pichardo (D) & Robert Webb Kenny III (R)

Michael Tarro (D) & Robert Berrillo (ind.) to succeed State Representative Steve Costantino (D)

BROWN UNIVERSITY (Taubman Center for Public Policy), Thursday, October 14th (7 p.m.)

101 Salomon (De Ciccio Auditorium, through Faunce Hall Arch on Waterman Street  above Thayer)

Frank Caprio (D), John Robitaille (R), Kenneth Block (Moderate) & Lincoln Chafee (ind.)

to succeed Governor Donald Carcieri (R)

SUMMIT NEIGHBORHOOD Association, Thursday, October 14th (8 p.m.)

Jewish Community Center, 401 Elmgrove Avenue (opposite Brown Stadium)

David Cicilline (D), John Loughlin (R), Kenneth Capalbo (ind.) & Gregory Raposa (ind.)

to succeed U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy( D)

SUMMIT NEIGHBORHOOD Association, Tuesday, October 19th (7 p.m.)

Jewish Community Center, 401 Elmgrove Avenue

State Sen. Rhoda Perry (D), Morris Markovitz (R) & Miriam Ross (ind.)

State Sen. Maryellen Goodwin (D) & Richard Robusto (ind.)

State Rep. Gordon Fox (D, Speaker of the House) & Erich Sturn (R)

FOX POINT Neighborhood Association, Wednesday, October 20th (7 p.m.)

Fall General Meeting, Vartan Gregorian School auditorium, 455 Wickenden Street (above Hope)

Angel Taveras (D) & Jonathan Scott (ind.) to succeed Providence Mayor David Cicilline (D)

State Sen. Rhoda Perry (D), Morris Markovitz (R) & Miriam Ross (ind.)

Chris Blazejewski (D) & Richard Rodi (ind.) to succeed State Rep. David Segal (D)

BROWN UNIVERSITY (Taubman Center for Public Policy), Thursday, October 21st (7 p.m.)

117 MacMillan Hall (Thayer Street below the Sciences Library on Waterman)

Angel Taveras (D) & Jonathan Scott (ind.) to succeed Mayor David Cicilline (D)

WAYLAND SQUARE, Wednesday, October 27th (7 p.m.)

Neighborhood Discussion Group at Books on the Square, 471 Angell Street (at Elmgrove)

State Sen. Rhoda Perry (D), Morris Markovitz (R) & Miriam Ross (ind.)

State Rep. Edith Ajello (D) & Dr. Dan Harrop (R)

Chris Blazejewski (D) & Richard Rodi (ind.) to succeed State Rep. David Segal (D)

Sam Zurier (D) & Ronald Dwight (ind.) to succeed Providence City Councilman Cliff Wood (D)

By SNA Admin, ago

Community Gardening Update

Based on the survey results we’ve received so far, SNA is not endorsing a community garden in Lippitt Park at this time.  The neighborhood seems strongly in favor of Collyer Field as an alternate location, so we’re going to look into that option further, working in collaboration with neighbor, Greg Gerritt.  

Please join us at 6:00 on September 19 at Summit Commons, 99 Hillside Ave, to share your thoughts.

By SNA Admin, ago

Report from the community gardening meeting

Last night at Summit Commons June Daniel presented her plan to create community gardening in Lippitt Park.  Also in attendance were eight neighbors, five of which are current SNA board members.  It is unfortunate that there was little notice about this meeting, but now that we are in contact with June, we will give advanced notice of these meetings as they get set.

June presented her ideas for the project, including potential locations in the park and the basic format, which would be modeled closely after the Sessions Street community garden of which she is a current member.  In essence, the city would bring water to the location, build a fence, and then allow land use rights to the community garden group.  The proposed area of the project would be 4,800 square feet.  The group would then lease the 10′ x 10′ plots to individuals who would use them to grow vegetables.  June said that the details of this arrangement are still in the works, but likely costs could be $100 for the first year and $35 for each additional year thereafter.  Members who have a plot in the current year get first right of refusal for a plot next year.  She reported that most other community gardens in the city have a waiting list.

Specific locations discussed included:

1. Southeast corner of the park

2. Southwest area where the Open Market is usually held

3. Northern point where the Farmer’s Market is usually held

Locations #2 and 3 above would have those markets moving elsewhere inside the park.  Everyone agreed that giving the Farmer’s Market first location choice is essential, as that market brings much enhancement to our neighborhood.

The neighbors present participated in the discussion, suggesting other locations in addition to Lippitt Park for consideration.  The group seemed split on whether Lippitt Park was an appropriate location for this type of activity, with perhaps a few more than half of those present thinking that it was not the best location.

Another location discussed was Collier Field, which perhaps has closer access to water and is a less-used location.

This project is something being pursued by June Daniel.  For its part, SNA hopes to gauge neighbors’ wants in this area and advocate accordingly.  To that end, there will be a survey created, as well as at least two additional public meetings.  Access to the survey will be made available on this site, on the SNA e-mail list, and in the next SNA newsletter for people without Internet access.  June has agreed to not pursue this project in Lippitt Park if it becomes clear that the neighborhood is against it.  It is difficult to get any accurate reading of neighborhood consensus, and the best methods discussed last night were through the survey and public meeting discussion.

So if you have an interest in this issue, please participate in one of those methods, if possible.  If you are unable, please do contact someone from SNA (sna@sna.providence.ri.us) to make your voice heard.  Of course, SNA is not the only way to weigh in here; the Parks Department and Mayor’s Office should also be willing to hear your voice on this issue.

The additional public meetings are set for September 26 and October 24 at 6pm. Location will be Summit Commons (99 Hillside Ave).

By SNA Admin, ago

Build your social capital at SNA meeting Feb 25

Join us for the biggest neighborhood meeting of the year, the Annual Meeting of SNA members on Monday, Feb. 25 at 7PM at the Rochambeau Branch Library, 708 Hope Street.

We’ll review SNA activities, elect our new 2008 board and explore ways to build your non-monetary portfolio – your social capital account. The idea of social capital was popularized in Robert Putnam’s 1999 book Bowling Alone. (more…)

By SNA Admin, ago