Fourth of July in Sycamore Knolls

It hadn't cooled off much by 7:00pm, but still we all gathered at the foot of Montclair for a spirited "march" up the hill to the park.

There were some old-timers (including some who had grown up in Sycamore Knolls) and some newbies (including some who had lived in the neighborhood for less than a week!), and we gathered under the shelter at Southeast Park for some refreshments and a chance to get to know one another.

A splendid time was had by all!

Holiday Caroling in Sycamore Knolls

Neighbors,

Here are some pictures of the "HornBones" performing in Sycamore Knolls on Sunday, December 18, 2011.

The caroling (and the gathering that followed, under the park shelter around some hot chocolate and cookies) besides being generally a good time and a good excuse to hang out with your neighbors, also was a part of a fundraising effort.

Information about donating to the Bloomington Community Band, either on-line or by mail, can be found on their website: .

Fourth of July Parade and Picnic!

The annual Sycamore Knolls Parade and Picnic was a rousing success! We had a good turn-out, great weather, colorful decorations, and tasty treats.

We began at Noon at the intersection of Rock Creek and Montclair, and then made our way up to the Park.

Many thanks to HAL TURNER, your Sycamore Knolls Neighborhood Association Vice President, for organizing this event. He had balloons and flags for the parade participants, music to march to, and cold drinks and watermelon at the park shelter. Hal also had arranged to give a Border's Gift Card to each family that participated! DON HALFORD contributed ice cream and cones to complete the fun.

I have uploaded some photos that my wife Debbie took at the event. Click on the link in the navigation bar to the left to see them. These are low-quality photos, to facilitate posting, but if you would like to receive higher-quality versions of any of these photos, please let me know at robert_terrill@comcast.net. I'll be glad to send them to you as an e-mail attachment.

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

- Robert Terrill

Newsletter, Easter Egg Hunt, Spring Picnic

Neighbors,

I've not been good about posting to the Blog lately, but as we anticipate the spring (well, as I write this we're actually anticipating 4-8 inches of snow), we also anticipate a few neighborhood traditions, new and old.

First, I'll be producing a short "hard-copy" newsletter and delivering it to each house in the neighborhood. It will provide some neighborhood news, but more importantly it will include form you can use to pay your annual neighborhood dues.

---> Or, as a new option, you may choose to pay your SKNA dues by using PayPal, by clicking on the button on the left side of the screen!

Second, Easter falls on April 4 this year, and that means that our annual Easter Egg Hunt will most likely occur on Saturday, April 3. Stay posted for details! And, of course, and as always, if you would like to help out in any way, no matter how small, please let me know by clicking here.

Third, last year we had a marvelous Spring Picnic, organized by Anita Park. Well, actually it was raining, and a bit chilly. But, we still had a wonderful time, chatting with the hardy neighbors who joined us under the shelter. Please let me know if you'd like to help out with this event, as well.

Best wishes for a wonderful 2010!

Blooming Neighborhoods

Each year, HAND (Bloomington's office of Housing And Neighborhood Development) hosts an event called "Blooming Neighborhoods." This is an opportunity for all of the Neighborhood Associations around Bloomington to come together to share ideas and experiences, and generally to enjoy all being a part of what makes this town so special.

Each Neighborhood Association is provided with a table, a map of our neighborhood, and a sign. We try to have neighbors sit at the table in shifts, to pass out candy to those who drop by and to answer whatever questions might come up. I've talked to everyone from people who are looking to buy a home to IU students thinking about research projects on community activism.

This year the event is being held on Saturday, June 6.

And in conjunction with Blooming Neighborhoods, the City has invited Jim Diers to do a presentation on Friday, June 5. Diers is the "former director of the City of Seattle's Deaprtment of Neigborhoods and author of Neighbor Power: Building Community the Seattle Way." He will "share the story of Seattle's neigborhoods and insights from communties around the world that are working to build active and creative neighborhoods."

The above information is from the City's website, which you can access here:

<http://bloomington.in.gov/documents/viewDocument.php?document_id=2254>

If you would like to volunteer to sit at the Sycamore Knolls Table for a half-hour shift on Saturday, June 6 (during the Farmers Market), please send me a note here:

<robert_terrill@comcast.net>

Neighborhood Picnic a Success!

Well, as might have been predicted, our beloved Indiana weather simply refused to cooperate: it was cool, damp, and breezy. Nonetheless, our inaugural Sycamore Knolls Neighborhood Potluck Picnic (finally) went off as planned on Saturday, May 16.

About a dozen hardy souls met under the shelter at Southeast Park for a very tempting spread, while some of our kids played on the playground nearby. I think I speak for all who showed up and when I say that these were not the ultimate picnic conditions. (And to make matters worse, of course, the sun did manage to shine through later that afternoon!).

But, I also think that I can speak for all when I say that it was a wonderful time to enjoy conversation, to get to know our neighbors, share a little gossip, and even to learn a little neighborhood history!

We're hoping, of course, that next time the weather will be better. But we're confident that there will be a next time!

Once again, a very special thanks to Anita Park for organizing the event!

And, our next scheduled Social Event will be the annual Fourth of July Parade. We'll meet at the bottom of Montclair at 11:00am and march up to Southeast Park. A good time always is had by all.

Now, as some of the folks who have lived in the neighborhood a while will remember, it used to be common to pack a picnic lunch to enjoy after the Parade. Once upon a time, we even had entertainment at the Parade -- a clown, some musicians, face-painting, etc. In any case, I'm hoping that especially civic-minded and/or patriotic soul (or souls) might be willing to head up and organize the Parade this year!

Picnic Scheduled for Saturday, May 16th

Our neighborhood picnic has been rescheduled for Saturday, May 16th, from 1:30pm to 4:30pm. The location will be the shelter at our neighborhood park, Southeast Park.

This will be a "potluck" affair, so be sure to bring something to share! (The Sycamore Knolls Neighborhood Association will provide some crackers, chips, drinks, napkins, and paper plates.) This time, we won't be planning to cook any food while we're there -- just come prepared to eat, share, and chat with your neighbors!

If you have questions, you should contact Anita Park at anipark2004@yahoo.com. She has done an outstanding job of organizing (and then reorganizing) the picnic. Hopefully, everyone who was planning on attending the picnic before will attend now, plus even more!

NOTE: If it happens to rain the morning of the 16th (i.e., until 12 noon), the event will be cancelled, and we'll try again next spring.

Neighborhood Picnic Re-Scheduled

By late Friday afternoon, the weather forecast called for a 60% chance of rain for Saturday, May 2, the date of our First Annual Sycamore Knolls Neighborhood Picnic. The decision was made to cancel the event, based on the fact that most folks don't like soggy picnics.

Of course, as we all now know, the forecast was wildly off, and Saturday actually turned out to be a beautiful spring day. Well, that's springtime in Indiana, for sure.

Through the "e-vite" system that Anita Park put together, we at least know that a good number of people would be interested in attending a neighborhood picnic. So, we're hoping that when the new date is rescheduled for later this spring or summer, we'll have lots of our friends and neighbors join us!

Watch this spot, and the SKNA Listserv, and your e-mail -- for news about the rescheduled date.

City Fourth of July Parade Information

Neighbors,

I received the email, below, about the City of Bloomington's plans for the annual Fourth of July Parade. As far as I know, Sycamore Knolls has never had an entry in the parade. If you are interested in putting together some sort of entry for our neighborhood, please contact Sarah Nix at the phone number listed below.

And, of course, we'll also plan to have our own Sycamore Knolls Fourth of July Parade. It traditionally starts at the corner of Rock Creek and Montclair, and comes up Montclair to the Park, where we have some light refreshments and, perhaps, some entertainment.

If you'd like to help out with our neighborhood parade this year, please contact me at [robert_terrill @ comcast.net].

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The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation has again teamed up with Downtown Bloomington, Inc. and Indiana University for the 2009 Bloomington Fourth of July Parade. The theme of the parade this year is "Get Active, Bloomington". Join forces with other community members and get active showing your community spirit. Show us how you get active. Please keep in mind the changes we have made to the parade.

· The parade will start at 10:00 am.

· The route will start at the corner 7th St. and Indiana Ave. Down 7th street, turning left on college. From college turning left on to Kirkwood Ave. Ending at Kirkwood and Indiana Ave. A detailed map will come in your packet at packet pick-up.

· All applications and entry fees will be taken through the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department.

· Applications are due Monday, June 15th. No on-site registrations will be allowed. No exceptions.

· Parade packets must be picked up on Thursday, June 25th in the Parks and Recreation Office, Suite 250 inside the Showers Building, from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. You must have your parade packet prior to check-in on the day of the parade.

· Check-in the morning of the parade will be from 7:00 am – 8:45am and all participants must be in their assigned holding spot by 9:00 am.

The $15 entry fee and applications are due no later then Monday, June 15th at 5:00 pm. There are only 100 spots available so apply early to secure your spot! You must turn in your completed waiver form at packet pick-up on Thursday, June 25th.

We ask all participants to be creative this year and really add some excitement to your parade entry. Some things that could add some FUN to your entry are a themed float, lawn mower brigade, hula hoops, colorful or patriotic flags, balloons, jugglers, decorated bicycles, music, stilts or unicycles. Please feel free to call or email me with any questions concerning the parade or if you just want to brainstorm some new and creative ways to make your entry stand out this year.

Sarah Nix

Facility/Program Coordinator

City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation

401 N. Morton St. Suite 250

Bloomington, IN 47402

p. 812.349.3748

Easter Egg Hunt

The weather is turning warmer (if somewhat reluctantly, it seems), and that means that it's time for the Annual Sycamore Knolls Neighborhood Association Easter Egg Hunt!

We'll meet at 11:00am on Saturday, April 11, at Southeast Park. The "egg hunters" will be divided into three age groups: 0-4 years, 5-8 years, and 9 years and up. Please plan to arrive on time, as it is very difficult to hold back the eager kids much past the planned start time.

We'll also have a "duck pond" and a "lollipop tree" with prizes for the little ones, and I believe that a very good time will be had by all.

- Robert Terrill, President, Sycamore Knolls Neighborhood Association