Accomplishments in 2010:
Fall Jamboree
Averill Woods Neighborhood Association partnered with the Averill Elementary Soccer teams to host a Fall Jamboree with financial support from Lansing City Council, on October 23, 2010. Over 100 neighbors and soccer team families attended the event which featured children's activities, a community meal, awards for soccer participants, and a moon class provided by one of the teachers. The event brought together Lansing residents from not only the neighborhood association area, but also the Averill elementary school catchment area, and families from other schools (including homeschools) wanting to participate on the Averill soccer team. It was an opportunity for parents to connect to other school parents, and for others to become familiar with the faculty, staff, and amenities of Averill Elementary School.
Sponsorship of Candidates Forum
For the first year, we helped to sponsor the Candidates Night Forum hosted by Colonial Village Neighborhood Association. The event was held at Grace United Methodist Church on October 20, 2010. Over 75 residents were in attendance. Nearly 20 local and statewide candidates presented. Two ballot initiatives were also represented.
Mosaic and Painting, and Open House at Averill School
On August 21 we partnered with Averill Elementary School and the MSU College of Law students to do substantial work on the Art Mosaic sign for Averill School and to paint several more exterior doors at the school. In the weeks following, we also worked with school volunteers/mentors from the University Baptist Church of East Lansing to complete the Mosaic. We helped to serve food at the Averill Elementary School open house on September 16th and were present for the unveiling of the newly installed art mosaic.
Lugnuts Game
With tickets made available free of charge from the Lansing Mayor's Office, 30 neighborhood watch participants and families attending a Lansing Lugnuts game on June 15. It was an opportunity for residents from different parts of the neighborhood to socialize and develop greater connections to one another and to show appreciation for the work and efforts of our many neighbors.
Community Walk
In partnership with Averill Elementary School and the family and friends of neighbors Owen Goodenow and Darren Brown we conducted a 2 mile walk through the neighborhood to show support to neighbors and everyone affected by the crime. Here are clips from the TV coverage seen on WILX, WLNS, and Fox47.
Safe Routes to School
We have applied for our first grant to initiate improved traffic safety and pedestrian flow to the elementary school. We have consulted with local and state experts to determine options and identify resources to address the challenges. While this grant was not funded, we did initiate discussion about utilizing "remote drop off" sites and "walking school buses" to improve safety and traffic flow.
Accomplishments in 2009:
Averill Woods Park trails and environmental education area
The MSU "Into the Streets" program provided 80 student volunteers to help us clear areas in the woods for trails, remove invasive species, and integrate areas for environmental education. We added 3 acres of usable area for students and teachers to use for education and activities and for residents to use for recreational walks.
Food and Beverages generously donated by Michigan State University Office of Cultural and Academic Transitions. Volunteers and addtional support provided by Lansing City Council, City Of Lansing Parks And Recreation & Forestry, Munchies Of Lansing, Averill Elementary School Faculty, Staff, Parents, & Students, LansingSchool District, Menards of Lansing, MSU “Into The Streets” Program, Averill Neighborhood Residents And Friends.
Improved Lighting
In partnership with Lansing Board of Water and Light, Averill Elementary School and Lansing School District, we requested and received additional and improved lighting around the entire AverillElementary School. Because the new lighting was "greener" and more efficient we were able to obtain significantly greater light output for minimal costs to the Lansing School District.
Walk and Bike Club
We initiated the walking group and the biking club to help neighbors get to know one another and the different parts of our neighborhood.
Pedestrian Safety
With the help and support of the City of Lansing Planning and Neighborhood Development we obtained new "school zone" signage and stop signs located at pedestrian walk ways across from the school and park.
Fighting crime with environmental design
Trisha Gilbert, a senior from Michigan State University Landscape Architecture developed a site plan to help improve visibility and safety around the Averill school, park, and woods. She conductied a site inventory and analysis gathering input from Averill faculty and staff, Averill parents and students, and Averill Woods residents
Accomplishments in 2008:
Neighborhood-wide crime watch initiated
We made our first steps at trying to cover our entire area with a block-level neighborhood watch groups.
Entire neighborhood canvassed
Thanks to the hard work of dozens of neighbors, we were able to distribute informational flyers to every area within our boundary for the *first time ever!* This included apartment buildings, duplexes, and single family residences. The flyers familiarized residents with our neighborhood association, invited them to our 2008 block party, and served to recruit people into our neighborhood watch.
Citizens encourage city to fight cell tower lawsuit and city is successful
The City of Lansing was recently successful in getting T-Mobile to withdraw its lawsuit against the city for denying a permit to build a 120 ft. cell tower in a residentially zoned area in our neighborhood. This is a huge accomplishment! It is the result of the hard work of our City Attorney with support from City Council, Mayor Bernero, and hundreds of residents who signed petitions and attended public meetings to help T-Mobile be a good neighbor. Thank you T-Mobile for listening to residents' concerns!
New ordinance to guide cell tower / telecommunications in place
As a result of this potentially precedent-setting request to build a cell tower in a residential area, City Council developed and passed a new ordinance to guide the placement of cell towers in more preferred areas. Keep up with the latest news
Visit the blog of Averill Wood's resident, Wes Thorp, to hear his analysis and insight on events and topics that affect our neighborhood.
Fall Jamboree
Averill Woods Neighborhood Association partnered with the Averill Elementary Soccer teams to host a Fall Jamboree with financial support from Lansing City Council, on October 23, 2010. Over 100 neighbors and soccer team families attended the event which featured children's activities, a community meal, awards for soccer participants, and a moon class provided by one of the teachers. The event brought together Lansing residents from not only the neighborhood association area, but also the Averill elementary school catchment area, and families from other schools (including homeschools) wanting to participate on the Averill soccer team. It was an opportunity for parents to connect to other school parents, and for others to become familiar with the faculty, staff, and amenities of Averill Elementary School.
Sponsorship of Candidates Forum
For the first year, we helped to sponsor the Candidates Night Forum hosted by Colonial Village Neighborhood Association. The event was held at Grace United Methodist Church on October 20, 2010. Over 75 residents were in attendance. Nearly 20 local and statewide candidates presented. Two ballot initiatives were also represented.
Mosaic and Painting, and Open House at Averill School
On August 21 we partnered with Averill Elementary School and the MSU College of Law students to do substantial work on the Art Mosaic sign for Averill School and to paint several more exterior doors at the school. In the weeks following, we also worked with school volunteers/mentors from the University Baptist Church of East Lansing to complete the Mosaic. We helped to serve food at the Averill Elementary School open house on September 16th and were present for the unveiling of the newly installed art mosaic.
Lugnuts Game
With tickets made available free of charge from the Lansing Mayor's Office, 30 neighborhood watch participants and families attending a Lansing Lugnuts game on June 15. It was an opportunity for residents from different parts of the neighborhood to socialize and develop greater connections to one another and to show appreciation for the work and efforts of our many neighbors.
Community Walk
In partnership with Averill Elementary School and the family and friends of neighbors Owen Goodenow and Darren Brown we conducted a 2 mile walk through the neighborhood to show support to neighbors and everyone affected by the crime. Here are clips from the TV coverage seen on WILX, WLNS, and Fox47.
Safe Routes to School
We have applied for our first grant to initiate improved traffic safety and pedestrian flow to the elementary school. We have consulted with local and state experts to determine options and identify resources to address the challenges. While this grant was not funded, we did initiate discussion about utilizing "remote drop off" sites and "walking school buses" to improve safety and traffic flow.
Accomplishments in 2009:
Averill Woods Park trails and environmental education area
The MSU "Into the Streets" program provided 80 student volunteers to help us clear areas in the woods for trails, remove invasive species, and integrate areas for environmental education. We added 3 acres of usable area for students and teachers to use for education and activities and for residents to use for recreational walks.
Food and Beverages generously donated by Michigan State University Office of Cultural and Academic Transitions. Volunteers and addtional support provided by Lansing City Council, City Of Lansing Parks And Recreation & Forestry, Munchies Of Lansing, Averill Elementary School Faculty, Staff, Parents, & Students, LansingSchool District, Menards of Lansing, MSU “Into The Streets” Program, Averill Neighborhood Residents And Friends.
Improved Lighting
In partnership with Lansing Board of Water and Light, Averill Elementary School and Lansing School District, we requested and received additional and improved lighting around the entire AverillElementary School. Because the new lighting was "greener" and more efficient we were able to obtain significantly greater light output for minimal costs to the Lansing School District.
Walk and Bike Club
We initiated the walking group and the biking club to help neighbors get to know one another and the different parts of our neighborhood.
Pedestrian Safety
With the help and support of the City of Lansing Planning and Neighborhood Development we obtained new "school zone" signage and stop signs located at pedestrian walk ways across from the school and park.
Fighting crime with environmental design
Trisha Gilbert, a senior from Michigan State University Landscape Architecture developed a site plan to help improve visibility and safety around the Averill school, park, and woods. She conductied a site inventory and analysis gathering input from Averill faculty and staff, Averill parents and students, and Averill Woods residents
Accomplishments in 2008:
Neighborhood-wide crime watch initiated
We made our first steps at trying to cover our entire area with a block-level neighborhood watch groups.
Entire neighborhood canvassed
Thanks to the hard work of dozens of neighbors, we were able to distribute informational flyers to every area within our boundary for the *first time ever!* This included apartment buildings, duplexes, and single family residences. The flyers familiarized residents with our neighborhood association, invited them to our 2008 block party, and served to recruit people into our neighborhood watch.
Citizens encourage city to fight cell tower lawsuit and city is successful
The City of Lansing was recently successful in getting T-Mobile to withdraw its lawsuit against the city for denying a permit to build a 120 ft. cell tower in a residentially zoned area in our neighborhood. This is a huge accomplishment! It is the result of the hard work of our City Attorney with support from City Council, Mayor Bernero, and hundreds of residents who signed petitions and attended public meetings to help T-Mobile be a good neighbor. Thank you T-Mobile for listening to residents' concerns!
New ordinance to guide cell tower / telecommunications in place
As a result of this potentially precedent-setting request to build a cell tower in a residential area, City Council developed and passed a new ordinance to guide the placement of cell towers in more preferred areas. Keep up with the latest news
Visit the blog of Averill Wood's resident, Wes Thorp, to hear his analysis and insight on events and topics that affect our neighborhood.