So much to say, so little space! But, let’s begin! What a terrific turn out we had at our April 7th meeting at St. John Vianney. I believe that over 70 of us were in attendance and let’s not forget that sweet little McLaren Hospital Security Vehicle making her first appearance! There she sat, in all of her splendor, in the parking lot right by the pine trees at St. John Vianney, for all of us to see as we entered the parish hall! Security patrolman Josh was behind the wheel, and Pat Robinson, Director of Security at McLaren was working behind the scenes, having the vehicle drop by for an introduction – exciting is not an overstatement! So, for those of you in the neighborhood, who were not able to attend the meeting, I would like to announce in our newsletter, the wonderful fact that all three large businesses that ‘hug’ our neighborhood will be actively patrolling Mott Park and Glendale Hills. So, when you see Kettering Security drive by, give a wave! When you see a McLaren security vehicle drive down your street, know that they are out there, helping us keep things safer in Mott Park! When you spot a security vehicle from Hurley Hospital, as well, be glad. We are so very fortunate that Kettering University, McLaren and Hurley Hospitals care about the welfare and well-being of those of us who live in Mott Park. And speaking of our safety and well-being, for those of you who dabble in social media, you may have noticed that our Neighborhood Watch is back in full swing. John Simpson, along with other volunteers from our neighborhood are working very hard in tandem with Mike Herriman and Craig Wolcott from College Park, at putting together and implementing a strong and efficient watch group. If you would like to volunteer/donate time to assisting with our watch, please contact John Simpson (his number is listed in the newsletter). This watch, only in its first month of operation, has already rendered two scrappers a ride in a police car! Cool beans! If you have not been available when one of the watch volunteers has stopped by your house to give you a “We Participate in Mott Park Neighborhood Watch” window card, please come to our next association meeting, where you can pick up a card and meet some of the people who are building our watch. This is a terrific program which is already in practice in the College Park area; we in Mott Park are now doing this as well.
Please help make this program successful! We all can contribute by:
1. Being eyes and ears
2. Talking to our neighbors
3. Document/photograph any thing that just seems ‘not-quite-right’ to you
Together, we can make this program work! Remember, ALWAYS CALL 911 first, and then, Kettering Security at 810-762-9501. This weekend offered a strange, and yet at the same time, wonderful sense of hope to me. It kind of centers around the clubhouse, our clubhouse. This neat, special structure that only folks who either played golf at Mott Park or who lived here (or those rogue skaters who came by in the winter time) enjoyed the privilege of experiencing. Strange – because we actually held the continuation of our Mott Park steering committee meeting Sunday afternoon IN THE CLUBHOUSE; Wonderful – because we held the continuation of our Mott Park Steering Committee meeting in the clubhouse! Each time I have been inside this building over the past weeks, watching Ginny Braun weave her determined ‘let’s get this done’ spirit, replacing, repairing, repainting, I find I am hit with such a strange mixture of emotions memories of running in and out of the doors with ice skates or a bag of pop corn; remembering the terrific fire place, warming our soaked boots and mittens there from sledding down the hills – and now, these many years later, trying to grasp the reality that our idyllic play area, Mott Park is having to work very hard to hang on, because of the financial difficulties we are experiencing in Flint as a whole. Please, neighbors, friends, even folks who are living here in a transitional capacity; this is OUR neighborhood, this is OUR park, these are OUR homes and OUR streets! Please be an active participant in helping our neighborhood be a better place, pick up litter, help an elderly person, report crime, help enforce the curfew, don’t park on your lawns (yes, there is an ordinance against doing that), follow the speed limit (it is 25 mph on residential streets). Together we can make a difference. One step at a time. – Nada