Author: Tom Eblen

The Mentelle Neighborhood Association’s general membership meeting was Wednesday evening at Ashland Elementary School. President Ann Olliges opened the meeting at 6:35 p.m. and everyone introduced themselves.

Treasurer Richard Coles reported that the association has $6,105 at Peoples Exchange Bank, of which $1,530 is earmarked for landscape repairs to the Mentelle Park Median. (Those funds came from Kentucky American Water Co., whose contractors contributed to the damage.) He also reported that the association has 81 lifetime members and 7 annual memberships that are expiring. He said the MNA can now accept payments by PayPal, allowing for membership application and payment via the website.

Board Member Elaine Cook spoke about her work planting trees in the neighborhood and her recent organization of a workshop about caring for our street trees led by the Urban Forest Initiative.  She also said that $600 left over from the 2017 neighborhood street tree plantings will be used to plant new trees on the Mentelle Park median and that a tree at Ashland School will be included in the 2017 Street Tree Project.

Social Secretary Jessica Mohler talked about 2017 social events, including the Easter egg hunt and the chocolate and wine event at Ruth Hunt Candies.

Board Member Bethany Baxter introduced candidates for the nine board positions and asked if any other names should be added to the election slate. Nobody put their name forward, so Bethany distributed ballots and every household present got a vote. Votes were counted and these people were elected:

• President: Ann Olliges
• Vice President: Linda Worley
• Secretary: Tom Eblen
• Treasurer: Richard Coles
• At-large board members: Jessica Mohler, Katie Martin, Shelby Reynolds, Bethany Baxter and John Helfenberger.

Elaine Cook withdrew her nomination for re-election to the board because of time constraints, but she graciously agreed to continue working on neighborhood tree projects.

Past President Shelley Fortune spoke about how she needed to resign the presidency in May after her husband was deployed in the military. She also discussed plans for organizing a home and garden tour in the summer of 2018 as an MNA fundraiser.

Sam Rock described his idea for the neighborhood to adopt a flag design that neighbors might enjoy flying from their porches. He had seen the idea in an Atlanta suburb where he used to live.

Linda Worley spoke about a Nov. 5 history program planned at the Bell House.  Janie-Rice Brother, a senior architectural historian at UK, will speak about architecture in the neighborhood.  Linda also said she and Shelby Reynolds are preparing an update to the Mentelle Field Guide. This neighborhood directory update will be issued as an insert. Any updates, edits or new members should get their information to Linda or Shelby as soon as possible.

Shelby spoke about the ongoing noise problems coming from Cosmic Charlie’s on National Avenue and what has been done to try to mitigate them. He reported that Cosmic Charlie’s has been citied for three noise ordinance violations and paid fines of $250 for each event.

Former Secretary Liz Reucroft, a member of the Ashland Elementary School PTA, thanked neighbors for donating time and money to build a new playground. She added that the school is having its Fall Festival on Nov. 3. The festival is open to the public, so please come and support our neighborhood school.

Bill Fortune spoke about speed tables being installed on Bullock Avenue. Similar speed tables can be seen on Richmond Avenue. He described the process for getting them, but he warned that the city officials sometimes don’t approve them because they make access more difficult for emergency vehicles.

My house is a what?

Janie-Rice Brother, a senior architectural historian at the University of Kentucky and an Aurora Avenue neighbor, will give a presentation about architecture styles in the Mentelle Neighborhood on Sunday, Nov. 5, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Bell House, 545 Sayre Ave.

Brother is a knowledgeable and entertaining speaker who writes the Gardens to Gables blog about vernacular architecture in our region. She  will be happy to identify and discuss your house’s style if you bring along a photo. Light refreshments will be served. Hope to see you there.

 

 

As leaves begin to change color and temperatures cool, many of us prepare for winter. Teachers at Cardinal Valley Elementary School begin to look for coats, hats and glove for their students.

Ninety seven percent of Cardinal Valley’s 700 students are on free or reduced-price lunch. Many students are learning English as a second language and, as such, face language barriers in getting resources.

If you would like to donate a coat, gloves or hats for the school’s annual coat drive, it would be greatly appreciated. Coats should be sized for children ages 4-12. Items can be brought to the Mentelle Neighborhood Association General Meeting on Oct. 25 or dropped off on the front porch at 721 Aurora Ave. (Ann Olliges’s house).

Thank you for your consideration and help in keeping these students warm this winter.

The Mentelle Neighborhood Association’s annual meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25 at Ashland Elementary School. All association members are encouraged to attend. Information about joining the association can be found here. Dues are $10 per year or $50 for a lifetime membership.

The meeting will include a recap of the past year’s activities, a discussion of plans for the next year, an opportunity for members to contribute ideas and express concerns, and the election of officers and board members for the coming year.

Over the summer, Shelly Fortune stepped down as president because of added family and professional responsibilities. The board elected Ann Olliges to serve out Shelly’s term. Ann took the lead in organizing the neighborhood yard sale July 22 and the neighborhood picnic Sept. 17. Ann will be seeking a full term, and other officers are seeking re-election. But Shelly and Elaine Cook are not seeking re-election to the board, which leaves two board vacancies.

All offices and board seats are up for re-election annually, and any association member is eligible to submit his or her name for the ballot. If you are interested in running for the board or a specific office, please email secretary Tom Eblen no later than 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15, to have your name included on the ballot. Nominations also may be made from the floor.

 

Don’t forget the annual Mentelle Neighborhood picnic today, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the North end of the Mentelle Park median. All neighborhood residents are welcome: homeowners, renters, association members or not. Hamburgers, hotdogs, brats and the trimmings will be provided by the association and expertly cooked by Eddie Owens. Bring a dish to share.

The street will be closed this afternoon around the last median. If you are parked in the street, please try to move your car no later than 4 p.m. and limit trips in and out for everyone’s safety. Thanks for your consideration.

The annual Mentelle neighborhood potluck picnic is this Sunday, Sept. 17, 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., in the Mentelle Park Median. Eddie Owens will be grilling hamburgers and brats. Please bring a dish to share, plus your own beverage and a chair or blanket. 

There will be street games and live music; neighborhood musicians can bring their instruments and join in. The Lexington Fire Department will have a truck there to see, and you can chat with firefighters.

The association has a city permit to close Mentelle Park around the median nearest Cramer Avenue between about 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. For everyone’s safety, it would be helpful if parked cars were moved off that section of the street beforehand and in-and-out traffic was limited during the picnic. Sorry for any inconvenience.

If you can help tidy the median Saturday, please email Tom Eblen. If you can help set up or cleanup Sunday, please contact Ann Olliges

Catch up with your neighbors at the annual Mentelle neighborhood potluck picnic in the Mentelle Park Median on Sunday, Sept. 17, 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Please bring a dish to share, plus your own beverage and a chair or blanket. 

This year, we will have street games. There also will be live music; neighborhood musicians are encouraged to bring their instruments and join in. And the Lexington Fire Department will have a truck there on display and you can chat with firefighters.

The University of Kentucky’s Urban Forest Initiative will lead a two-hour urban tree workshop for our neighborhood on Saturday, Aug. 19 at 9 a.m. at La Petit Delicat, 722 National Avenue. Seating is limited, so RSVP soon to Elaine Cook, elainecookharp@gmail.com.

The workshop will cover the importance of urban trees and the benefits they provide; how to recognize urban tree health characteristics; resources and ways of communicating about urban tree problems; and how to be an ambassador for tree canopy health. 

The workshop will include a lecture and hands-on outdoor training — walking through the neighborhood to assess the health characteristics of different street trees. This workshop will help participants become more familiar with how to look at trees and communicate future problems with tree professionals.

The University of Kentucky’s Urban Forest Initiative will lead a two-hour urban tree workshop for our neighborhood on Saturday, Aug. 19 at 9 a.m. at La Petit Delicat, 722 National Avenue. Seating is limited, so RSVP soon to Elaine Cook, elainecookharp@gmail.com.

The workshop will cover the importance of urban trees and the benefits they provide; how to recognize urban tree health characteristics; resources and ways of communicating about urban tree problems; and how to be an ambassador for tree canopy health. 

The workshop will include a lecture and hands-on outdoor training — walking through the neighborhood to assess the health characteristics of different street trees. This workshop will help participants become more familiar with how to look at trees and communicate future problems with tree professionals.