Summer 2012

The Green Thumb committee is finishing a busy Spring season. After nurturing 400 Petunia, Coleus and Sweet Potato vine plants at the City Greenhouse, they are now planted in ENA’s 22 James Street planters from North Avenue to the 2700 block of James Street. A big thank you to Jim Coburn and his Greenhouse crew for their assistance in transporting and placing the planters for us every year and thank you to all the Eastwood business owners who have agreed to water “their” planter in front or near their establishments. To assist them in their efforts, we furnished each of the businesses with a watering can marked with an ENA sticker.

Have you noticed the beautiful row of American flags starting at Green Way Park, the Veterans Memorial at the corner of James Street and Grant Boulevard and all the way to the Eastwood Plaza? Thanks to the generosity of Eastwood Neighborhood Association members, the Green Thumb Committee was able to purchase new American flags, new metal “spinner” poles and brackets to place 40 American flags with the assistance of the City’s DPW. The flags will be removed after September 11th.

The seven ENA garden sites in the Eastwood area welcomed spring with Tulips and Daffodils in full bloom. Now, our “gardening” members: Michele, Mary, Gail, Paula, Paul, John, Ben, Amber, Sandy and Annelise will be kept busy until Fall with the care of these gardens.

The 7th annual “Eastwood in Bloom” event will be held on Saturday, September 29th, at the Wesleyan Church at 511 S. Midler Ave., from 10am to 1pm. More than 2000 free Daffodil bulbs will be given out to any Eastwood resident. There will also be a “second time around” table, raffle for various items and refreshments available to all who attend.

If you are interested in some extra summer gardening, please contact Annelise at info@eastwoodneighbor.com. Happy gardening!

Tai Chi Chih is Back!

ENA will again sponsor eight Tai Chi Chih classes for a summer session beginning on Tuesday, June 5th at 5pm. Sister Maureen Mastine will join us again as the instructor for this healthful class. Classes will be held in the Blessed Sacrament Cafeteria until weather permits outside classes at the future site of the East Woods Skate Plaza. You must be an ENA member to participate, but can sign up for the $10 membership at the classes. For more information, contact Judy Lewis at info@eastwoodneighbor.com.

Skate Plaza Update

Parks Commissioner Baye Muhammad is in the process of signing a contract with Apel Osborne, a local landscape architectural firm, for the final design of the East Woods Skate Plaza. Apel Osborne is in the process of signing a sub-contract with Pillar Design Studies, the employer of internationally-known skate park designer (and Skate Park Committee Supporter since 2006) Brad Siedlecki. Brad plans to be in town on June 13th to meet with skateboarders to settle on the final wish list of the local skateboarding community. This meeting will take place at the Eastwood Community Center at 5:30pm—all are welcome to attend. Construction is slated to begin by September 2012!!!!!

Green Thumb News

What's missing from this picture?

Hip-Hip Hurray, Hip-Hip Hurray, Hip-Hip HurrayOnce again, a big thank you goes to Eastwood’s Common Councilor Nader Maroun. ENA’s Safety Committee has been working on a two-step project concerning a couple of spots on James Street. Thanks to Councilor Maroun, Step one is complete: the removal of the outdated and vacant TOPS trailer that was located in Wilson Farms parking lot. Stay tuned for more good news. Hopefully, Step two will be done and an article will appear in the next Eastwood Neighbor.

The Eastwood Property Conservation Committee is working with Home HeadQuarters to redevelop 4-5 properties in the Eastwood neighborhood with available funding through the Eastwood 5-Star Program. The full rehabilitation and new construction on Woodbine pictured above might be the first examples of this new effort!

A Classic Summer Evening Wednesday, July 18th, will be a fun night in Eastwood for those who like vintage cars and good ol’ rock-n-roll music. First, see how many classic cars you

can spot cruising through our neighborhood. Then, head on down to Norwood Park with your lawn chair where the cars will be on display and you’ll be able to enjoy the fabulous sounds of The FAB 570, Syracuse’s official 70’s power pop band, starting about 6:30pm. Typical summer fare – hamburgers, hot dogs and more –will be on sale at the concession stand. All we need to make the night complete are blue skies, some sunshine and you!

BEFORE

BEFORE

AFTER

Before and After in Eastwood

Eastwood Flea/Crafter Market DayENA’s annual Eastwood Market Day for local crafters, small businesses and individual vendors is scheduled for Saturday, August 4, 2012, from 9am to 3pm The event is held in POMCO’s parking lot on the corner of Eastwood Rd. & Grant Blvd. More than 70 selling spaces of 10’ X 12’ are available for sellers to reserve on a first come, first served basis for $15 per space. Sellers may reserve more than one space. Registration forms for sellers are available to download on ENA’s website, www.eastwoodneighbor.com. For additional information contact Sharon at 438-3132 or Paula at 463-5977.

AFTER

QUESTIONS?COMMENTS?

info@eastwoodneighbor.comOctober 28, 2012www.eastwoodneighbor.com

6th Annual

Eastwood HistoryBy Margaret McVicker

Madis Senner, an Eastwood resident, recently sent me some of his memories of “…growing up in rural Eastwood” in the 1950s and 1960s. Madis grew up on Burns Avenue within sight of Burnet Avenue and remembers the area as being mostly rural. There were not many businesses on Burnet Avenue, but the Stickley factory was still there, there were several small stores in the area and Murray’s, which is still in business, was called “Steve’s.”

Madis mainly remembers the many springs and ponds in the area. “The area where Bill Rapp is now located had several springs, seasonal ponds and a small spring-fed stream. It must have been clean water because there were salamanders, crayfish and more in it,” says Mr. Senner. “There was a very large and dirty pond called widewaters near Bridge Street and Erie Boulevard. We could see snapping turtles there. A friend of my mom’s who grew up on Burns Avenue told me she used to swim in it in the 1930s.”

“The northwest corner of Thompson Road and Burnet Avenue had a spring where cattails grew, but within a few years of Bill Rapp moving in, it began to collect debris,” continues Mr. Senner. “ Across Burnet Avenue where the present day Nissan dealership is located, there was a strong and vibrant spring that created a small creek that flowed freely until it reached the railroad tracks. About one hundred yards east, there was a weaker spring and a seasonal low water pond where cattails also grew and I would go there each spring to catch tadpoles. My father would put them in a birdbath on the ground with stones so they could seek shelter from the birds. It was amazing to watch a tadpole grow into a toad and then one day be gone. There was a lot to explore and to see, including snakes, turtles, frogs, toads and more. There were several old railroad or canal tracks and even an old abandoned trestle.”

Thanks to Madis Senner for some interesting Eastwood history!

The Eastwood Park-to-Park Run Offers New Course! This year’s 5-mile Eastwood Run on October 28th might just be the fastest race yet through the Eastwood neighborhood. The new race course highlights some challenging hills, plenty of neighborhood sites and fall colors and ends with a downhill sprint to the finish.

Registration forms and more information will be available by August 1st.

Questions? Visit www.eastwoodneighbor.com or email eastwoodrun@gmail.com or call Sue at 437-5087.

Business Spotlight: Karl Lutz Monument Co., Inc. By: Chelsea A. Casciano

For the last eight decades, Karl Lutz Monuments has offered Central New York families high-end, custom monument pieces for their loved ones from a tucked away location on James Street in Eastwood. Their selection of more than 200 stones, bronze memorials, mausoleums and war memorials are made using the same methods and techniques Karl Lutz Sr., who founded the company, brought with him from Germany.

It’s those same principles from Grandfather Lutz that are carried on by his family today: exceptional quality, great customer service, European craftsmanship and fair pricing. “Our attention to detail sets us apart from the competition,” says Mr. Lutz.

Karl Lutz Monuments works with all faiths and does all its carving and lettering on the Eastwood premises. “Our grandparents settled here and we receive lots of foot traffic. We have stayed in Eastwood because it’s just good business,” says Karl Lutz.

www.eastwoodneighbor.com

Eastwood Neighborhood Association, Inc.PO Box 66, Syracuse, NY 13206

COMMITTEE CORNER President: Aaron D. Wood Vice President: Dan Rogers Secretary: Gail Tyndall Treasurer: Mike McCall

Green Thumb Committee Annelise Bucci, 463-4794Maintains plantings, plans

beautification events.

History & Archives Committee Mike Flanagan, 299-6569

Preserves Eastwood’s rich pastand current ENA events.

Marketing/Publicity Committee Karen S. & David G., 317-4980Raises awareness about ENA

and life in Eastwood.

Membership Committee Sharon Morrison, 438-3132

Builds membership and participation.

Memorial CommitteeDan Rogers, 383-2541

Honors Eastwood residents through special projects.

Residential Property Conservation Minch Lewis, 463-6472

Conserves quality of life, including 5-Star Program for rentals.

Safety Committee Sue Straub, 437-5087Explores ideas to keep

Eastwood safe for residents.

Skate Park Research Committee Judy Lewis, 463-6472

Planning and raising funds to build a skate plaza in Eastwood.

Special Events Committee Sue Straub, 437-5087

Plans community buildingactivities for Eastwood.

Youth Committee Pastor Roosevelt Baums, 412-1961

Explores youth issues and develops programs,

specifically a P.A.L. Program.

There are many ways to support the Eastwood Neighborhood Association. We ask that you consider becoming a member, a volunteer or making a gift.

YES, I am interested in helping Eastwood to become an even better place to live!

I would like to:

□ Volunteer on the ___________________________ committee. Not sure which one to join? Contact us - we’ll be happy to help you decide!

□ Become a Member (my check is enclosed) $10 Lifetime Membership

□ Give a gift of $_____ to ENA. (my check is enclosed)

QUESTIONS?Email us at:

info@eastwoodneighbor.com

Name: ____________________________________________Address: __________________________________________Phone: _____________________ Email_________________

Please mail completed form to:Eastwood Neighborhood Association, Inc.

PO Box 66, Syracuse, NY 13206

REMINDER: ENA Open House Tuesday, June 5th at 7pm

Blessed Sacrament School - Cafeteria - 3129 James StreetEveryone Welcome!

Interested? Want to give back?Join an ENA Committee today!

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Welcome Mike Flanagan, ENA’s new History Committee Chair!

If you’re interested in joining the History Committee, please email info@eastwoodneighbor.com.