Next meeting for Sheridan Valley Neighborhood Association

The January Meeting for Sheridan Valley Neighborhood Association will be an important one. The By-Laws are being formed and you will want to make sure and get your input in. If you would like to serve on the committee please contact your neighbor Andy Grove and help shape your Sheridan Valley. A big Thanks to Up with Trees for their donation of free trees to our neighborhood and some homeowners. Please make plans to attend our next meeting with items you would like to place on the agenda to discuss or put your name in the hat for one of our committees. See you There!!

Up With Trees Planting

Well Neighbors our Up With Trees Planting was quite a success we got our trees planted at the entrances and in some neighbors yards. If you ordered a tree and was not present at the time of planting you need to make sure you go and participate in a planting at one of the other plantings that UP WITH TREES is holding. If you participated in the planting Thank you for helping us to regreen our neighborhood and continue to beautify Sheridan Valley.

Bids for Landscaping Sought!!

If you are or know of someone interested in submitting a bid on furnishing the plantings for the new entrances they must be submitted by the next meeting! Please get all bids into Phil Gray as soon as possible. We would like to look at all the bids and take a vote so we can get that finished. Dont forget to look at the website www.sheridanvalley.org for updates on the sign project. It is moving forward!! Looks so beautiful!! Happy Neighbors Everybody!!

Upcoming Meeting to Have Speaker from City of Tulsa Working In Neighborhoods!

Be sure and not miss the next meeting featuring a speaker from the City of Tulsa's working in Neighborhoods Program. She will be able to help us with questions on keeping our covenants clear and enforced as well as how to keep our neighborhood association active and relevant. Please make plans to attend! We cant be a neighborhood without YOU!! For questions or items needed to be added to the agenda please contact Jill Probst, secretary @ jprobst@cbtulsa.com.

See you There Neighbor!

Bids for Landscaping Project

We are still waiting on three more bids on the landscaping portion of our signage Vision 2025 project. If anyone has another interested party that would like to bid on the landscaping portion of the job please contact jprobst@cbtulsa.com. You can submit your bid via email and she will get it to the design committee. The layout design can be found on the website www.sheridanvalley.org or you can find the drawings here.

NEIGHBORS BEWARE!!!

We recently have had our fair share of vandalisms and burglaries. Last week one of our neighbors had an attempted burglary we think. She was getting ready for work in the early morning hours and her security dog started barking. When her husband came back by the house he noticed a patio chair had been moved across the patio and brought to rest underneath a second story window. Her thought was that someone had surely tried and rethought to go in with her german shepard in the house. So remember with all the City work and stranger workmen in the neighborhood to lock your doors even if you are home. Secure both your back door and garage doors. Our little Valley is noticing more crime coming from other neighborhoods and spilling into ours. Our best defense is to call 911 when we think something may be amiss and then we can breathe easier when it turns out to be nothing. Better safe than sorry so call the POLICE and then call your neighbor.

Have a Happy Friday Everyone!! Be your brothers Keeper and we will all be better off.

New Signs look Brilliant!!

Have you noticed on your way home or maybe on your way out our beautiful signs and how they sparkle in the darkness!! The electricity is now on! A big thank you for Phil Grays perseverance and diligence in getting them to complete their part of the task.

City Work on Water Mains

Have you been down 78th Street and 68th Street cul de sac? The cul de sac has been under construction and many construction vehicles have been in and around our neighbors. Wednesday evening the cul de sac and some other neighbors had no power for a couple of hours due to a line being cut by the Construction crew from WH Couch. AEP/PSO was on site within minutes and worked diligently to get the power back on. With rain and storms getting ready to pour down on us the two PSO workers did their very best to get our power restored and did so quickly. The work has been messy but really fairly quick - so if you are next on the list to have the work done prepare yourself for the mess!

Just A Reminder for Neighbors

Hello Friends of Up With Trees,

Once again, Up With Trees is receiving a generous donation of trees from the Apache Foundation to give away to non-profit & faith-based organizations. The trees are expected to arrive by the end of October 2009. They will be large, 3-5 gallon potted trees that are 5-6 feet tall, and come in a variety of species that all grow well in Oklahoma. Each agency can again request up to 100 trees, although we will consider larger requests for those with multiple or exceptionally large facilities. We invite you to join one of our tree care classes if you feel that it would be beneficial, but are not making it mandatory for non-profit & faith-based groups provided that you have a staff member or representative responsible for ongoing maintenance. Please find a cover letter from our Executive Director as well as a revised Apache Foundation tree application attached.

Up With Trees is also extending free tree offer to individuals who take a "Tree Care" class! In addition to offering the trees to non-profits, Up With Trees will give away up to 4 trees per person who participates in one of our classes on how to properly plant and care for trees. There is a $10 charge per person for the class which will be held at our 1102 S. Boston location (class dates & times are noted on the attached cover letter and application, additional classes may be scheduled if needed). You must reserve your spot in advance.

While we are asking for a small donation for this program, please bear in mind there are significant costs associated with this and all of our programs. If you are able, please consider making an additional donation to Up With Trees to help us continue to offer programs like this to the public.

As noted on the forms, you may indicate a preference for certain types of trees, but we do not know for sure how many or which species we will get, and we cannot guarantee your selection. We expect shipment late October and will contact you before then to confirm the order and arrange for pick-up dates & class schedule. We will also offer to deliver trees for a minimum donation. Requests will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis, so the earlier you get your application in, the better your chances of getting the types of trees you wish.

Up With Trees Administrative Assistant, Matt Rodgers, will be facilitating intake and follow-up for non-profits & individuals. If you have any questions, please contact him at 610-8733 or at matt@upwithtrees.org; he will be in touch with you regarding further details as they come available. We look forward to working with old and new friends alike who want to responsibly plant trees to improve our urban canopy and make Tulsa a more beautiful, healthier and safer community. Help us branch out -- forward these great opportunities to family, friends and colleagues!


Best regards,

April H. Woodul
Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator
Up With Trees
1102 S. Boston Ave.
Tulsa, Ok 74119
www.upwithtrees.org


So if you are looking for some trees for your little urban canopy call April and make plans to attend that class to get your FREE trees!!

Upcoming Meeting Agenda

Make sure you are planning on attending the next association meeting to get the update on our President- listen to our guest from the City of Tulsa on code enforcement, City Waterline project and finally an update on our Vision 2025 entrances Project. We have a lot of new business to discuss and need you there! If you have an item to add to the agenda please feel free to email me or the webmaster on www.sheridanvalley.org. See you There!!

Code Enforcement Officer to Come to October Meeting

A representative from the City of Tulsa Code Enforcement will come and speak with the association at the October meeting. He will be there to discuss the ways to initiate a code enforcement inspection/complaint and also to answer questions about specific issues in our neighborhood. Please plan to attend so you can get caught up on the City of Tulsa' policies on code enforment. See you there!

Date Change on Event With Up With Trees

April with Up With Trees called and said that they needed to change the date of our planting with Up With Trees. Make sure that if you signed up to help plant or have asked for a free tree for you yard that you are available on the new date December 12th from 10am to whenever we are done that afternoon. We still need volunteers for coffee, doughnuts and water bottles for the volunteers. If you are interested please contact Jill Probst or your block captain for more information.

City Work on Water Mains

The City has finally started the work on the water line project that we were made aware of several years ago. They have been in the neighborhood marking lawns and curbs. You may have even noticed a red pick up truck driving around videoing the neighborhood to protect themselves from possible litigation from their work.
That being said, I had several calls from concerned neighbors about the strange truck driving around since the phone books incident with people dropping off the out dated books and then breaking in when no one answered the door. The police were called and they came out and spoke with the two gentlemen. Calls were made to the City of Tulsa to find out why we weren't notified by the subcontractor or the City that these men would be videoing the neighborhood. At this point the project manager is going to get with us and let us know what the project scope is going to be and update us on what is the timeline on the project. As soon as we get that info and/or the time when they can come and speak with us we will certainly get that info to the neighbors.

Moral to this posting??? Call the police when you see a suspicious person whether they look suspicious or not. We must be more vigilant in our neighborhood to make it safer! If you see something call 911 just incase it is the real thing!

Neighbors Beware!!

Recently one of our neighbors was robbed during the daytime by some men who were delivering phone books. They were not caught. Then just last week I had an opportunity to possibly see a potential robbery. I had just come home at 4:45pm and noticed some men pulled up near the For Sale By Owner house on 78th Street. I knew my neighbor was not home and so when I got out of my car on the driveway I stood and watched them so they knew I was watching them. The man was delivering phone books. I had forgotten what had happened around the corner but it wasnt until I spoke with another neighbor closer to the burglarized home that she had spoken to AT&T and was told that they were NOT delivering phone books. When the neighbor looked at the date of the book it was December 2008. So BEWARE. The men were in a white pickup truck and the man leaving the phone books on the door step was white, reddish blonde beard not a tall man. When I continued to watch them they drove off and I didnt even think that they hadnt continued to deliver more phone books to me or anyone else.

Even though we think we notice what is going on- if it is a everyday occurance it may not be what is actually going on. SO remember to check things out even if you talk to them or just call the police. If it is a real deal then they wont mind the cops asking them a question or to identify what or who they are doing in the neighborhood. Watch for the Alert Neighborhood Meeting coming up. Police have been notified to watch for these men. Come to the meeting so we can continue to keep our neighborhood Alert!!

Alert Neighborhood A Success!

After the last association meeting with Tulsa Police Department Officer Mark Craft and Mr. Tom Hitchenson from the Crime Prevention Committee it was agreed that we need to meet more frequently to keep our neighbors more alert at suspicious activities that might be going on in the neighborhood. If you would like to be a part of the Alert Neighborhood Committee please contact Jim Whitehead at whitehead3@cox.net for more details.

Directories are In!!

Tell your neighbors that the directories are in!! If you are a member they are free with your membership and if you are not yet a member then the cost is $10.00 with $5.00 going towards your membership if you join! Get with an officer or contact your block captain on getting your copy if you werent at the last meeting!

Have some Bulky Waste???

Remember that bulky waste pickup is free. Just call the City of Tulsa, Call 596-9777 to schedule pickup of unwanted household items. Keep our Valley CLEAN!!!

Upcoming Neighborhood Association Meeting

The upcoming meeting will have in attendance a representative from the local Crime Prevention Association and a policeman (as long as the police don't need them at the moment). Please plan to attend. There will be refreshments and lots of neighbors. Watch for the signs and remember to come to the church at 7PM. If you have an item for the agenda just email us and let us know so we can put you on the agenda. See you there!!

August Meeting Agenda

Any items for the meeting in August please contact secretary Jill Probst to get on the agenda. We are planning to have a policeman and member of the Citizens Crime Commission to come and speak with us again in light of some of the vandalism and crime that has recently happened in our neighborhood. Please try to come and meet and greet we will be having some refreshments during the meeting. Also bring any concerns that you may have about the neighborhood at that time! See you there!!

Update on the Garage Sale benefiting Landscaping

Well as some of you already know- our neighborhood garage sale netted $366.71 to go towards purchasing landscaping around the new entrances. It was hard work but a good time was had by all who worked! Lots of neighbors donated items and time and for a worthy cause. If anyone has any comments or suggestions on raising any more funds for the landscaping please contact your block captain. The latest update from Phil Gray our project manager is that the City of Tulsa is going through the process of issuing purchase orders for the scroll letters to go on the signs. We are getting closer to the end where we can see all the finished work but remember neighbors we have to work with the City and sometimes it takes time for the review process to catch up with the rest of us. Keep watching we're getting there!

FREE TREES

Have you filled out your application for a free front yard tree? Up with trees has partnered with us to provide some free trees for the entrances and then for each homeowner that is interested can fill out an application for one of the many trees they offer. If you havent get in touch with your block captain!

Neighborhood Garage Sale to Benefit Landscaping

Dont Forget that Next Saturday is the garage sale to benefit the landscaping fund for the new entrances. Bring a sack of donated items anything to the sale at 6715 E 78th Street and stay and help if you want. The sale opens on Saturday July 25th at 7AM. Come one neighbor Come all!

Meeting Tonite

Tonites Meeting will go over the progress of the entrances, neighborwood, association directories and new events that will take place. Dont miss out!! Be there 7pm at Bethany Christian Church 6730 South Sheridan!!

Once Again we are getting ready for a neighborhood Event!

The garage sale is coming up neighbors! Dont forget to collect your items and you can bring them early to 6715 E 78th Street or you can hang on to them until the sale which should be the Saturday after the July 14, meeting. The tentative spot is the cul de sac on 78th street and 69th East Ave. Please come on out and bring your items to support the landscaping fund! All proceeds are going to the account to purchase shrubs and perennials, annuals for the entrances. One bag of stuff from each home in Sheridan Valley should make it possible to purchase the greenery we need to finish off our beautiful signs!

Amazing!!

Jim Avilla has braved the heat to make sure that our entrances stay on schedule! The South Entrance looks almost done except for lights and lettering. The north entrance is in progress. Pictures are going to be posted as soon as possible as to the works in progress. Get ready for the upcoming garage sale to benefit the landscaping portion of the entrances. It has been suggested that we use the old wooden signs at the other entrances to the neighborhood. What do you think? Let us know and remember the meeting on July 14th at 7pm at the Church! See ya there.

Next Meeting of the Association is July 14, 2009

OK Folks! Our next regularly scheduled meeting is July 14, 2009 at 7pm at Bethany Christian Church. Be there for all the great updates we will be unveiling!!

Some Notes on the previous meeting

At our meeting we had a good turn out. We discussed the new signs and the progress. Another item of interest is that our meetings will now be every 2nd Tuesday of the month. So we will be having regular meetings and at the same place: Bethany Christian Church at 7pm, so that anyone who might be interested can come. We are still in the process of finding some NO Solicitation signs for the Alert Neighborhood Posts at the entrances so we can head off all our usual suspects at the door. Also we will be distributing the neighborhood directory for all residents of the Valley and for those who have not joined the association a directory can be purchased for $10.00 with $5.00 going towards a membership. So if you know of someone who hasnt joined please give us a ring, email or a shout.

Block Party 09 was a Success

Although we didnt have quite the fanfare as we had hoped for our vets- we did have a great time. Donations and door prizes were found. Pictures are still be gathered to put together for release on websites and blogs. We had new neighbors turn out and get the word on the meetings and new events. After all was eaten and said it was a good success. We have started looking for themes and planners for next years event. If you would like to be a part of that send us and email.

Have you heard about the sign variance on 81st and Sheridan

There has been a letter circulated about a messageboard being erected in the strip mall located where Hungry Howies and the New Chimi's is being built. The variance calls for a change in the size and location of the message board. A meeting is to be held June 23rd at 1PM at City Hall to discuss the erection of the sign and any arguments against. Please study yourself approved on this issue to make sure you want a huge message board rumored to be like the one on 71st and Memorial behind Al's rentals and next to Olive Garden. I think we may want to look into if we want 81st and Sheridan more industrialized than it already is... remember we have the derelict gas station already on that corner do we really need a message board too?? Call the city councilor and find out what John Allen is wanting to erect in that space.

BLOCK PARTY 2009 JUNE 6TH, 6PM NE CUL DE SAC

HEAR YE HEAR YE!!!!!!!! Dont miss out on the upcoming block party it will be held June 6th at the Northeast Cul De Sac, at 6pm Hot dogs, hamburgers and any side dish you bring will be on the menu. So bring a lawn chair and your smile and enjoy. Music and good company will be on hand. We will be honoring our Veterans Past and Present. There will be door prizes too. Make plans to be there. We will also be unveiling our inaugural issue of the Sheridan Valley Directory for review or suggestions. This will be the last time we have to make changes before printing. See you there!!

Entrances Coming Along

Maybe you noticed that the South entrance has now been demo's and awaiting rebar so that the city architect can come and look at it and ok the concrete pour and THEN... we can see the actual start of the signs going on. Keep an eye out and remember we will be doing some projects to complete our part of the Vision 2025 Project funding. It was suggested that we do a neighborhood garage sale as part of a fundraiser for the funds we will need to pay towards the signage. Remember we are paying for our own landscaping. The garage sale will consist of each homeowner donating a bag of stuff and all the proceeds going to the sign project. It will be at one house and you need not work the sale if you don't want or desire!! Stay tuned we will keep you posted.

Meeting was held 5-21-09

Another neighborhood meeting was held on May 21st at Bethany Christian Church to discuss the status of the Vision 2025 entrance signage and the upcoming block party which is going to be held June 6th, 6pm at the Northeast cul-de-sac. The rain date is June 13th at the same time. The association is going to provide the hamburgers and hotdogs while all the neighbors can bring a lawn chair, side dish and smile. There were suggestions of karaoke and music. So a good time should be had by all. Please RSVP to Patty Orthman or Judy Humpert Block Party Committee Chair at :

patty.sheridanvalley@gmail or judyhumpert@yahoo.com

You will also get a look at the new directory that will be published as soon as we get everyone's updated info. The last time to update your info is at the party so swing by if you can and take a look!

Volunteers Needed This Saturday for Demo on Northern Entrance

We will be renting a jackhammer to finish the demo on the Northern Entrance of the neighborhood so we can get to work on the rest of the signs! Please help out if you can we will be trying to get together around 10am. If you have questions or comments give us an email or call an officer. See you there!!

Are you this person?? Do you wonder why we pay dues in Sheridan Valley??

Please look at the letter we received in our postage paid envelope with no dues just a note to let us know that someone in the neighborhood has no idea what you receive with your annual dues. This is why YOU need to attend the meetings. Obviously this person has never been to a meeting to know what is going on with his (oh yeah he/she didn't pay their dues) money! If you have any question as to where your money goes you can check it out 24/7 on the website at the treasurers report or minutes from the last meeting. We would love more input AND Help on how to direct our dues and other projects that would help us as a neighborhood improve safety, beauty and COMMUNITY. If this person is you.... then you need to come to a meeting and discover why the rest of us PAY OUR DUES.

City Signage Project / Vision 2025
Lawn Maintenance on Sheridan (prior to Completion of Vision 2025 Project)
Annual Block Party
Annual Garage Sale
Alert Neighborhood Alliance
Neighborhood Directory
Ongoing Water/Electric on new Sign upon completion
Lawn Maintenance along Sheridan and around new signs

It's like the old saying goes: "if you dont Vote you cant complain about who got voted in".

All of our projects need 2 main things:

You and Your Dues.

Part of the reason we were picked to receive the Vision 2025 neighborhood grant money was to develop neighborhood community spirit by working together to create and erect a new sign. One of the requirements to receive the money is to provide the labor to do so. Obviously this person has not helped and there may be a few more of you out there that didnt know or arent on our email lists. Perhaps if you spoke with a neighbor or came to a meeting you would understand that to move forward and get these things that we talked about you have to undertake a part of that action to move things forward. The fence along Sheridan was a plan that was over three or four years ago and we received only two responses from the neighbors along Sheridan... so the plan had to be scrapped. We do have a Yard of the Month.. currently in the Avilla's yard on 78th Place. If you dont notice whats happening then ask a neighbor or a Board member. Communication is key to this whole thing. Thanks for all the help and volunteers that continue to make this neighborhood great.
Your work is appreciated even enjoyed by those that don't participate. :-)

Looking for Dues for this Years Membership

Well by now every neighbor in Sheridan Valley has received their newsletter and a postage paid envelope attached to send in their dues and update in name/phone number/email changes. I wanted to say thank you to all those that have already sent theirs in. I also wanted to let you know we will be having another Neighborhood Meeting on May 21, at 7pm at Bethany Christian Church. Please plan to attend we have lots of updates on what we will be trying to accomplish with this years block party and how much we have gotten done on the Vision 2025 signage project. PLAN TO ATTEND!!!

Rainy Day Garage Sale :(

I dont think there was much participation with the garage sale this weekend what with the down pour and all. I think we will all have to get together and have a redo! Also if there are those of you that dont want to have your own but want to donate it to the neighborhood you can do that as well. All proceeds will go towards the signage project. Our neighborhood has to come up with upwards of $3500.00 to finish our part of the signage project. So any donations are welcome. We will be planning our block party June 6, 2009 at the Northeast cul de sac. We will be sending around a list with your block captain so you can sign up for whatever refreshments/food you would like to bring. Tables and chairs are also a welcome donation. Last block party we had a ball. We will be looking for door prizes again this year so if you know of any business or retailer that you think might give us a prize let one of the board members know so we can contact them!! See you at the next meeting: May 21, 2009 at the Bethany Christian Church. Make plans to attend so you can get all the scoop on the upcoming events ie, directory, block party and signage project update!!

Annual Neighborhood Garage Sale THIS WEEKEND

Ok Neighbors. I hope you have been keeping up with your newsletters and meeting info. Our neighborhood wide garage sale is taking place this weekend. May 1-3rd. Our banners will be out hanging on the fence since we dont have signs right now. But the neighborhood will also be running the ad to advertise it as well. Do not miss out. Last weekend during spring clean up two neighbors had sales and I think they are going to do it again... depending on merchandise... but they had tons of people stop and buy. So participate and make a little money!! Happy selling.

Spring Clean Up 2009 A Small Success

Well I must say we were sad about the turn out... Laddie really wanted to meet his new neighbors and he thought the clean up would be perfect. It was a beautiful day and people were all out doing things... just not at the clean up. Lots of trees were trimmed... trash picked up and even some dirt was dug around the old sign footings. Thanks to Phil Gray, Laddie Gray and Jill Probst for their immense help and hard work. Thanks to Jim Avilla for hauling off the limbs and debris to the dump. Check out our pictures and hopefully you will be in them next time! Remember we are looking for more participation in the neighborhood so that we can get our neighborhood projects finished and qualify for the Vision 2025 funds. AND more importantly build a little neighborhood pride in our work.

Thanks to all who helped achieve this small wonder again! (All three of you)

Next Meeting this Thursday 7PM

Everyone come out to the meeting to meet our new interim president and resident of Sheridan Valley Patty Orthman. She will be filling us in on new projects and events in the neighborhood. Dont forget Spring Clean up this Saturday and the upcoming Garage Sale the first weekend in May. Also we will be going over plans for the Block party in June. See you there!!

Spring Clean Up 09

Hey don't forget Spring Clean up for Sheridan Valley is this Saturday. I know lots of us are going to be out of town and what not but those of us who are here please join in and help us do some demo on the signs and other clean up projects in the neighborhood.

Incase you havent noticed....

Well did you see that the bushes and signs have been transplanted to make room for the new work to begin on the new signs. Finally we have some progress we can see. Please keep in mind that the City is still working through some issues with street maintenance and other audits/investigations. We should see our street project started soon. If you have any questions about these items bring them or concerns to the meeting! See you there!

There will be a new meeting on April 23, 2009 7PM at Bethany Christian Church, 6730 South Sheridan Road. Please come and bring your $50.00 annual dues. You can update your information at that time or go online and update the info. We need to make sure we have your new info so we can include it in the directory. Meeting Agenda Items: update on project 2025 signage project, upcoming spring clean up project, neighborhood garage sale, safe neighborhood/block captain, and upcoming block party. Please plan to attend and meet your old neighbors and even the new ones!

Signage Update

Whoo hoo. They have finally started the signage process where we can actually see something taking place. Check your email or the website for regular updates on our part of the Vision 2025 neighborhood project. Our old signs were removed and they have been temporarily erected on the fence until the construction is finished. The old plants were retained and planted nearby to help fill in when whatever the new landscaping is finished. Neighbors thank The Hunts and The Matthews for allowing us to tack the old sign up on their fences. It is great to finally see some progress. We will probably be start looking for volunteers to help finish the process with bedding plants and other projects related. If you would be interested in volunteering please get with someone on the board or get on the website and contact the webmaster so he can pass it along. Its a great place our Valley.

Meeting Tonite

There will be a new meeting of the Homeowners tonite at the Church at 6PM. Please make sure and attend as there will be elections discussed for the board and other important items regarding upcoming events in your neighborhood.