You are currently browsing the monthly archive for March 2009.
Over on my blog I have a bit of a rant pertaining to Columbia, which isn’t specific to the neighborhood. It’s concerning privacy and civil liberties.
Cheers!
Jim Downey
Here are a couple of notices from the city which may be of interest:
Please see the attached document regarding an open house being conducted by Public Works concerning Discovery Parkway. The open house is being held on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Media Center at New Haven Elementary School, 3301 New Haven Road, Columbia, MO.
Please see the attached document regarding a public hearing before City Council concerning Scott Boulevard Phase 2. The public hearing will be held during the City Council Meeting of April 20, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 4th floor of the Daniel Boone Building, 701 E. Broadway.
I’m not going to attach the .pdfs – you can drop me a note, or find the full information on the City’s website.
Cheers!
Jim Downey
Got notice of this grant workshop from Senator McCaskill’s office. I post the information here in case anyone in the neighborhood can make use of it, not as any kind of political endorsement.
Economic Development and Grant Training Workshop
Columbia Elks Lodge
4747 E. Elk Park Drive Columbia, MO 65201
Thursday, April 9, 2009
8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.This seminar, which is geared towards small businesses, local governments, and non-profit organizations, will feature presentations from federal granting agencies followed by a grant research and writing workshop conducted by Dr. Robert Buchanan of the University of Missouri in the afternoon.
You can find more information about the seminar online at my website: http://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/economicsummit/. Here, you may also register for the event. Please note, the deadline for registration is Thursday, April 2. If you have further questions or concerns, feel free to contact my Columbia office at (573) 442-7130.
Cheers!
Jim Downey
If you had a chance to make it to the Open House/Coffee at the Gerke’s this past Sunday, you don’t need me to tell you how enjoyable it was. We had a good turnout, and lots of people from the neighborhood got to meet one another for the first time. It was particularly enjoyable to meet Beth Leonard and Lamby Hedge, our newest neighbors there on South Country Club Drive. Pat and Gene gave tours of their lovely 1920′s home, and we all had a great time of it. Even Karl Skala, our representative on the City Council, was in attendance and happy to discuss many issues currently before the council.
I would love to have these kinds of relaxed events in the neighborhood every month – it is an excellent way to get to know one another, and to discuss in an informal setting those hopes and concerns we share. We tentatively have someone scheduled to host a Coffee in May – can I get a volunteer for April? June or July? Drop me an email if you are willing to welcome your neighbors into your home.
Cheers!
Jim Downey
Remember, this Sunday Pat and Gene Gerke will host the next Open House/Coffee at their home, 2105 South Country Club Drive, from 2 – 5 PM. In addition to being a great opportunity to see another of our wonderful historic houses here in the neighborhood, I will be there to discuss topics of interest relating to our neighborhood. Specifically, I’ll be happy to talk about my experience so far in the city’s Neighborhood Leadership Program, which has gotten a little bit of press coverage. It is still too soon to say with any certainty, but I think that some good things will be coming out of this program, including some structural changes to how the city handles Neighborhood Associations, and how Neighborhood Associations are able to work together to achieve common goals. One of the first things all the attendees discovered was that just about every other Neighborhood Association had similar concerns and frustrations – and a realization that we would have a greater chance of success if we could work together rather than as isolated individual groups.
So, join us Sunday!
Cheers,
As mentioned previously, Pat and Gene Gerke have kindly offered to host the next Open House/Coffee at their home, 2105 South Country Club Drive, next Sunday March 8, from 2 – 5 PM. This is a great opportunity to see another of our historic houses here in the neighborhood, and we hope that you will be able to attend!
I plan on being there, and look forward to seeing as many of our neighbors as can make it. Be sure to note that this is the day when we switch over to Daylight Savings Time, so plan ahead.
If you would like to host a future Open House/Coffee at your home, please be sure to drop me a note. We already have Mary and Russ Still tentatively scheduled for later this spring, once the legislature is no longer in session, but I would love to see this become a monthly activity for the neighborhood.
Cheers!
Jim Downey
