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Santa Claus toured the Mentelle Neighborhood in his antique hot rod Sunday afternoon, greeting children and hearing their Christmas wishes. Thanks to Chad Walker of The Warehouse Block for arranging Santa’s visit!

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Santa will be driving through Mentelle neighborhood, waving to children and posing for socially distanced photographs on Sunday, Dec. 20, from 2:30 p.m. until 4 p.m., courtesy of Chad Walker and The Warehouse Block.

But you don’t have to stand out in the cold to watch and wait for the jolly old elf, who will be riding in a red hotrod rather than a sleigh. Parents can use their smart phone or computer to track Santa’s trip through the neighborhood at this website, which will go live Sunday.

Also that afternoon, prizes will be awarded in the Mentelle Neighborhood Association’s first “Celebrate Winter” contest for members to decorate and light up their houses and yards for the holidays.

The association spent $500 on gift cards from 13 local restaurants and merchants to reward the best-decorated houses and, more importantly, to support our local businesses to help ensure they’re still around next year when the pandemic ends.

Gift cards were purchased from: Blue Door Smokehouse; Coles on Main; Selma’s Catering; Etchison Florist and Lady Bug; Lucia’s World Emporium; Wilson’s Grocery & Meats; Centered Holistic Health; Mirror Twin Brewing; Rolling Oven Pizza; Popcorn Paradise; Le Petit Delicat; Ruth Hunt Candies; and Sav’s Restaurant & Homemade Ice Cream.

There’s another batch of new, free books for all ages — advance-reader copies and slightly store-damaged copies — on the porch at 52 Mentelle Park.  Please stop by and help yourself.

You have two more days to enter the Mentelle Neighborhood Association’s  “Celebrate Winter” contest for members to decorate and light up their houses and yards for the holidays. Valuable prizes — gift certificates to nearby merchants — will be awarded in several categories. This is a great opportunity for pandemic creativity.  Show off your elegance! Indulge your inner Griswold!

Entry deadline is end of the day December 12, and decorations will be judged after December 16.  Click here to download the entry form.

Winners will be announced and prizes awarded December 20. That afternoon, from 2:30 p.m. until 4 p.m., the Warehouse Block management has arranged for Santa to tour the neighborhood in an antique hotrod with socially distanced greetings for kids.

Santa will be driving through Mentelle neighborhood, waving to children and posing for socially distanced photographs on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 20, courtesy of Chad Walker and The Warehouse Block.

The Mentelle Neighborhood Association is sponsoring a “Celebrate Winter” contest for members to decorate and light up their houses and yards for the holidays. Valuable prizes will be awarded to local merchants, including  Blue Door Smokehouse, Ruth Hunt Candy, Epping’s on Eastside restaurant, Popcorn Paradise, Petite Delicat, Twin Mirror Brewing, Rolling Oven Pizza, Centered, Lucia’s World Emporium, Wilson’s Grocery and Meats and Selma’s Catering.

The contest entry deadline is December 12, and decorations will be judged on December 16. Prizes will be awarded during Santa’s drive-by tour.  Click here to download the entry form, and good luck!

The Mentelle Neighborhood Association is sponsoring a “Celebrate Winter” contest for members to decorate and light up their houses and yards for the holidays. Valuable prizes — gift certificates to nearby merchants — will be awarded in several categories. This is a great opportunity for pandemic creativity.  Show off your elegance! Indulge your inner Griswold!

Entry deadline is December 5, and decorations will be judged after December 16.  Click here to download the entry form, and good luck!

 

The Mentelle Neighborhood Association held its annual membership meeting on Wednesday evening via Zoom because of the coronavirus pandemic. Sixteen members attended, elected officers for the coming year and discussed neighborhood issues.

Attendees unanimously elected the proposed slate of officers: president, Ann Olliges; vice president, Jamie Lucke; secretary, Tom Eblen; treasurer, Todd Davis; and at-large directors, Kim Naujokas, Shelby Reynolds, Will Jones, Hannah Ruehl and Esther Hurlburt.  Also, former Vice President Linda Worley was elected as at-large director emerita.

Treasurer Todd Davis reported that the association has $6,819.67 in the bank, including $862 earmarked for Mentelle Park median care and improvements. (That money is what remains of a $1,500 Kentucky American Water Co. donation several years ago. It was compensation for damage incurred to the median during a water main replacement project.)

After several members remarked favorably on Halloween porch and yard decorations around the neighborhood, there was discussion about having a neighborhood porch decoration contest for the holidays. Esther Hurlburt plans to bring ideas for that to the monthly board meeting next Wednesday (Nov. 18) at 7 p.m. (That meeting also will be conducted via Zoom. All MNA members are welcome to attend board meetings. If you wish to attend, please email Tom Eblen beforehand to get login information.)

Chad Walker, whose company owns the Warehouse Block, provided an update on the development along National Avenue and adjacent streets. He said two tenants have moved out this year — Local’s restaurant and Decorator’s Warehouse — and four new businesses have moved in. The new businesses are: StableDuel (an online gaming and event space), Blush and Glow (a one-stop bridal and consulting shop), Parkway Developers (a property management company) and Walker Properties, which owns the Warehouse Block.

“Our space, located just behind Dapple (near Eppings) will be completed in early December,” he said of the Walker Properties office. ” Our spot will house our day-to-day office operations, but will also include a large conference room and event space that, once restrictions lift, can be utilized by both the Mentelle Neighborhood and Warehouse Block as a meeting spot.”

Walker also noted that  five new Warehouse Block tenants have passed their one-year anniversary, which means they will pay $50 each to become Mentelle Neighborhood Association lifetime members: Balance Creative,  250 Walton Ave., Suite 160; Reach Fitness, 726 National Ave.; Empowered Flow, 740 National Ave., Suite 130; Wildfire Yoga, 833 National Ave.; and Harmony Day School, 839 National Ave., Suite 110.

Progress toward breaking ground on the 737 National Ave. lot (between Mirror Twin and Crossfit Maximus) is moving forward, he said.  The development plan has been amended and approved by the city, and final drawings should be completed by year’s end.

Walker said he has a letter of intent for a new tenant to occupy the former Locals’ building.  They are hoping to finalize plans in the spring. “Although the tenants have asked us not to publicize their business yet, I can promise that it will be an amazing addition to the neighborhood,” he said.

Please email Chad Walker if you have any questions about Warehouse Block.

Linda Angelo of North Hanover Avenue expressed concern about the appearance of an internet utility substation on the street near Cramer Avenue. She plans to approach the utility, the property owner and city officials about options for screening. She and other concerned neighbors plan to gather at the site Friday at 4:30 p.m. to discuss it.

The Mentelle Neighborhood Association’s annual membership meeting, which will include election of officers for the coming year, will be tomorrow night —Wednesday, Nov. 11 — at 6:30 p.m.  Because of concerns about coronavirus transmission in indoor spaces, the meeting will be held online via Zoom. Association members also may participate by telephone.

The Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning has graciously loaned the association a paid Zoom account for the meeting. To join the meeting, use this link and passcode:

https://carnegiecenterlex-org.zoom.us/j/82493205568?pwd=QVFpZW1EeExadmxqUGZ4cjJPVS9WQT09

Passcode: 440086

Members also may join the meeting by telephone. To join, call this number:  (929) 205 6099 and use the meeting ID: 824 9320 5568.

Officers and board members serve one-year terms. A nominating committee headed by Shelby Reynolds has put together a proposed slate of officers and directors.  Nominations also can be made  during the meeting.

The proposed slate is as follows (* indicates incumbent):

President: Ann Olliges *
Vice President: Jamie Lucke (currently an at-large director)
Secretary: Tom Eblen *
Treasurer: Todd Davis *

At-large Directors:
Kim Naujokas *
Shelby Reynolds *
Will Jones *
Hannah Ruehl
Esther Hurlburt

In addition to the election of officers, we will discuss ideas for pandemic-appropriate social functions in the coming months, get an update on the Warehouse Block from the development’s president, Chad Walker, and discuss any neighborhood issues on the minds of members.

If you live or operate a business in Mentelle Neighborhood but are not a member of the association, click here to join.

 

Free slightly damaged new books and advance reader copies of recent releases on the front porch at 52 Mentelle Park. (No children’s books this time. Sorry.)

The Mentelle Neighborhood Association’s annual meeting, which will include election of officers for the coming year, will be Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 6:30 p.m.  Because of concerns about coronavirus transmission in indoor spaces, the meeting will be held online via Zoom. Association members also may participate by telephone. A link to the meeting (and telephone access information) will be posted on this website (and sent as an email alert) the day of the meeting.

Officers and board members serve one-year terms. A nominating committee headed by Shelby Reynolds has put together a proposed slate of officers and directors.  Nominations also can be made  from the floor — or, rather, the screen — during the meeting.

The proposed slate is as follows (* indicates incumbent):

President: Ann Olliges *
Vice President: Jamie Lucke (currently an at-large director)
Secretary: Tom Eblen *
Treasurer: Todd Davis *

At-large Directors:
Kim Naujokas *
Shelby Reynolds *
Will Jones *
Hannah Ruehl
Esther Hurlburt

If there are any neighborhood issues you would like to discuss at the meeting, please email President Ann Olliges to be added to the agenda. The association hasn’t been able to have social events since the pandemic began in March, but the board is seeking ideas at the meeting for safe, socially distanced outdoor activities.

If you live or operate a business in Mentelle Neighborhood but are not a member of the association, click here to join.