Call for Volunteers at Seminole Manor’s new children’s lending library

The official launching of “The Front Porch Library” will take place on the afternoon of Saturday, June 13th.

We could use volunteers to help kids get their library cards, do a craft with kids, read aloud, and serve food.  Our library collection numbers around 800 and some kids have already been checking out books fairly regularly.  Having volunteers on hand would make it easier to host larger numbers of kids and to do some on-the-spot canvassing of the neighborhood as needed.

The library event is planned for 4:30 – 6:00 (or there abouts).  Volunteer help from 3:30 – 6:30 would be fabulous.

We look forward to hearing from you.  You can reply be email to smna2007 (at) gmail (dot) com or call 850.576.6418.

Second Saturday Garden Workday – Sat June 13th at 9am

Seminole Manor will be having another garden workday on Saturday June 13th.  We will be starting at 9am to beat the heat.  Plans are to:
- Tend to the tomatoes and harvest the ripe ones
- Continue to build cages for the squash since the squirrels keep assuming they were planted for their private dining
- Plant more peppers and flowers
- Weed and spruce up common neighborhood areas
We’ll have water and tools on hand and work until it gets too hot.

kk

Tallahassee Energy Challenge deadline extended through weekend

From CONA President Stephen Hogge:

Great news!!!! We are pleased to announce that over 1,000 Leon County households have now signed up for the Tallahassee Neighborhood Energy Challenge! What a tremendous testament to the commitment of this community to promote responsible energy use and reduce the associated greenhouse gases contributing to climate change! But please don’t stop signing people up just because we have met our sign up goal–with your continued support, we still have time to add hundreds more between now and Sunday’s signup dealine. In an effort to show the extent of participation and encourage those that have not signed up to do so, we are asking that you place a green ribbon (it does not matter the shade of green and it can be something other than a ribbon) in a visible spot in the front of your house.   It can be a tree trunk, a front door, or whatever. Of course, if you can’t do it by then, do it whenever you can! Hopefully, others will see it, ask about it, and sign up! And those that have signed up will be encouraged through a visible sign of others’ participation. As of last night, here are the top 51 teams with number of households that have signed up:

If you are from one of the neighborhoods with fewer than 10 team members, please try to sign up more team members and get to 10 team members. Those that don’t reach 10 will be combined into an adjacent neighborhood. PLEASE tell your friends and neighbors and encourage them to take the Challenge! If we all make one final push we can shatter the goal and have an incredible Challenge!

And, if all of this isn’t enough, remember winning neighborhoods are going to win cool prizes! Make your neighborhood the winner–sign up today and spread the word! Thank you!

Stephen Hogge President, CONA Founder/Chair, Tallahassee Neighborhood Energy Challenge

Sign up here at tallyenergychallenge.com

Announcing the Leon County Neighbor of the Year, Robert Rinehart

Tonight the Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA) announced its annual neighborhood awards.  We are pleased to report that Rob Rinehart was recognized as the Leon County Neighbor of the Year. 

Rob was nominated by members of the Seminole Manor Neighborhood Association.  We hope you will congratulate Rob when you see him.  Look for an article in the Tallahassee Democrat on Tuesday.

Robert Rinehart has worked tirelessly for the residents of Seminole Manor. He helped establish the neighborhood association and has served as President for many years now. In that role he has hosted the neighborhood Block Party, formalized our Neighborhood Crime Watch, represented neighborhood interests at a number of local forums, and encouraged neighbors to believe that our collective efforts could make a difference in our community.

These are the things Rob is known for. Lesser known is the behind-the-scenes work Rob does to assist individual neighbors in need. For example, for the past year Rob has been “on call” for a disabled neighbor whose house is in foreclosure. As this neighbor’s ability to advocate for himself has decreased, Rob helped secure legal assistance for the individual.  He assessed the living conditions in the home and made significant home repairs and acted as an advocate with social service agencies.

As a landlord Rob has a knack for introducing individuals to the neighborhood who are a good fit for the community. He brings neighbors together by hosting neighborhood association meetings and suggesting specific ways neighbors can become involved. Rob goes to great lengths to deter crime and to share public safety updates with the neighbors of Seminole Manor.

Rob’s efforts and leadership have created a sense of pride and community in Seminole Manor that affect all who live here. We are proud to have Rob serving Seminole Manor. “Neighbor of the Year” is a distinction Rob has earned many times over, and we hope this year’s nomination can convey some of the thankfulness and appreciation Seminole Manor residents have for his many years of service.

kk

Congratulations Joe and Heather

Seminole Manor residents Joe C. and Heather B. were married on Friday, May 8th, 2009.

We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness!

kk

Second Saturday Garden Workday May 9th 10am – 12noon

We’ll be there rain or shine.  Come join us.

kk

Neighborhood Watch Meeting – Thurs May 7th 6pm

AGENDA

- Recent concerns (burglaries, disturbance of the peace, loose dogs, and code enforcement issues)
- Reminders of reporting procedures (information that is “reportable” and TPD non-emergency phone number)
- Tips for staying safe and secure this spring & summer
- Other opportunities to be “neighborly” (Community Garden, Historical Society, etc)
- Tallahassee Energy Challenge sign up

Call 850.576.6418 for more information.  Or email smna2007 (at) gmail (dot) com.

Click here to get the flyer: neighborhood-watch-flyer1-5_07_09 .

kk

Energy Challenge Sign-Up Deadline Extended to May 15th

If you haven’t signed up for the Tallahassee Neighborhood Energy Challenge, it is not too late.  The deadline has been extended according to an article in the Tallahassee Democrat.

More than 650 households have registered and 138 neighborhoods are represented.  Let’s have Seminole Manor make  a bigger showing.  The Council of Neighborhood Associations promised prizes.  And you get the satisfaction of saving money too.

Go to www.tallyenergychallenge.com for more information.

kk

One Day Sale of the Earth Machine

Anyone into home composting should look into this:

In honor of Earth Day, the City of Tallahassee Solid Waste Services and Leon County Recycling will be sponsoring another “Earth Machine” Compost Bin Truckload Sale on Saturday, April 25. Come on out and join us for a great bargain price on a backyard compost bin. Then you can reduce the amount of household kitchen garbage and yard waste you throw away, and get a great, “free” fertilizer to add to your garden. Each machine includes a booklet with details on how to properly compost.

• What: Earth Machine Compost Bin Truckload Sale
• Date: Saturday, April 25, 2009
• Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm
• Where: Tallahassee Mall Parking Lot
• Price: $30 each, tax included (retail price is $100), while supplies last
• Compost turners and kitchen pails will also be available for purchase
• No Quantity Limits. First-come, first-served until sold out!

kk

Do you have a story to tell about living in Leon County?

From Donna Heald of the Tallahassee Geneological Society:

The Tallahassee Genealogical Society is currently working on a project to collect stories from people who live, have lived, or have family who lived in Leon County. Gerald Ensley was kind enough to do an article in the Democrat on the project a couple of weeks ago. This is to be a social history, and we would like to ask for your help in encouraging people to participate.  An article about your neighborhood and its history that would be a good addition to the book if the association would like to submit it.

Any help you can give us is much appreciated!

Donna Heald [email dhealdfl at aol dot com]

TGS Leon County Heritage Book project Topical Coordinator

Submission deadline is June 30, 2009.  Get more info here.

kk