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Gibson Heights News, September, 2002
NEIGHBORHOOD SHOWCASE:
Saturday, September 14, 2002
   From 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., the Adams Park Community Center will be the main stage of FPSE's Neighborhood Showcase. Showcase features will be: tours of churches, agencies, businesses, and twelve homes (one of them for sale); workshops on home ownership and rehabilitation; booths on home ownership and neighborhood / city agencies; programs for kids; and special 11:00 a.m. ceremonies with Mayor Slay and Alderman Roddy. Contrary to the popular saying, there will be free lunch at mid-day.
   Businesses offering tours are: Billy Goat Restaurant and Bar: Ujamaa Maktaba bookstore: The ManGrove, a restored commercial / residential property; and Best Friends used books and pet supplies.
   Finally, churches and agencies will be open: Adams Elementary School; Adams Park Community Center; Lighthouse Free Methodist Church and Community Center; St. Cronan Catholic Church; The Potter's Workshop art center; and The Church of the Living God.
Rainbow Park progress
   Healthy Kids at Play -- with Children's Hospital and Neighborhood volunteers -- installed the play equipment at Rainbow Park on July 27. Fencing and other details remain for later completion.
Park East leasing information
   The Lipton Group is accepting applications for the apartments being rehabilitated in the Park East I project. A few 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom units should be ready by late November. Rentals will range from $360 to $485. Call 531.5299 for further information.
Metropolis Partnership
   Metropolis steering committee member Rick Bonasch presented the partnership project between Metropolis and the Housing Corporation. The partnership, running from June '02 to June '03 includes the Neighborhood Showcase, a Sustainable Wash, and a Block Captain Network Part of the Showcase will be a "virtual tour." Rick invited members to participate in the tour and other partnership undertakings. You can reach Rick at or 314.333.7007.
Mainstreet Initiative
   Marti Hamilton reported at the Association's July meeting that the Manchester Mainstreet initiative is proceeding with four committees: Organization, Design, Economic Restructuring, and Promotion. Marti said the initiative has developed design guidelines (not rules) for new development and rehabbing.
   The project is working on financing the currently estimated budget of $10 to $15M and hopes to get the whole physical plan together by January 2003 for marketing and funding purposes.
   Marti presented a draft plan showing changes in streets, sidewalks, and other improvements. Residents can participate in the project by joining any of the committees. Call Marti at 533-6704 ext. 13.
Community Forum plan
   Khatib Waheed, who chairs the coalition against violence, drug addiction, and teen pregnancy, reported to the Neighborhood Coordination Team on August 21 that a community forum will identify community norms regarding violence. Two central issues are the perception by the community that the criminal justice system is too lenient and a perception by the system that the community is too tolerant. No date for the forum has been set so far.
   Forum subjects can be police practices, racial issues, and application of the norms across the board or selectively. Some "really complicated" issues identified by Waheed were: what should be done to prepare the hundreds of people released from prison every month for employment; the home-rule question of who controls the police; and the Hancock Amendment's limit on state taxes. Waheed sees the forum as democracy-building and suggested there would be power in a configuration of neighborhoods that could adopt a lobbying agenda.
Potter's Workshop
   The Potter's Workshop -- an art center of the Lighthouse Community Outreach Center -- will have a dedication celebration on Saturday, September 28, from 2 to 4 p.m. The Center will teach non-traditional problem solving skills to children and adults free of charge, affording hands-on experience for residents of all ages and callings, Phil Bogear, Lighthouse outreach coordinator said.
Housing Corporation Board Member
   Jim Halcomb, a new resident from 44xx Arco, was elected by a majority vote to be Gibson Heights representative on the Housing Corporation Board.

For more information and to make suggestions, send e-mail to Bob Babione.

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