Anti-crime meeting tonight

All in the Highland Hts. Neighborhood are invited to a meeting tonight, April 30 at 7pm at 741 Ogden Ave. to discuss ways to fight back against crime and graffiti in the area. Come and bring a neighbor. --posted by Carol Scheiber

More Earth Fair photos

See our blog (below) about the success of the Earth Fair held at Highland Park on April 25

Earth Fair organizer Jason Gorr and an official with the city Environmental Services division take time for a smile.

EarthEcycle collected dozens of kinds of electronics to recycle.

In addition, some Earth Fair visitors admire a tree that will soon bring shade to those who visit the Highland Park playground.

--Carol Schuck Scheiber

Earth Fair brings South Toledo together for environmentalism

Thanks to the hard work of many people, most notably organizer Jason Gorr, Earth Fair, held at Highland Park Saturday, April 25, was a big success.

Blessed with warm sunny weather, several environmental and neighborhood groups hosted booths, including Highland Heights Neighborhood Association (HHNA). A steady stream of visitors brought electronics and paint for recycling and mercury thermometers for exchanging. Small groups toured the dam remediation project near the park footbridge. This dam project has created a healthier fish habitat in Swan Creek.

Several city officials and workers attended this positive event. Mayoral candidate Keith Wilkowski shook hands and talked to attendees.

In a lasting tribute to the positive energy of the day, the city planted seven new fruit and shade trees along the footpath and near the playground. HHNA has long advocated for shade trees near the playground; hats off to all who made this happen!

Stay abreast of environmental efforts in Toledo by visiting http://www.blogger.com/www.thinkgreenfirst.net. Kudos to all citizens, activists and city workers who contributed to the success of this day!

Photo: Top: Toledo Heights Librarian Mary Chwialkowski, Don Mullen and Linda Pomeroy--all active with HHNA--took part in Earth Day. The Toledo Heights Branch Library also hosted a table.

--Story and photos by Carol Schuck Scheiber

Celebrate Earth Day at Highland Park April 25

All are invited to an Earth Fair at Highland Park, corner of Woodsdale and South Ave,Saturday, April 25, noon to 3pm. This public event will feature organizational displays, collection of used paint in good condition, tree planting, mercury thermometer exchange (bring your old mercury thermometer, get a new, non-mercury one free), and walking tours of the dam remediation project in the park.

Environmentalist Jason Gorr of the Highland Park neighborhood has worked with a number of people and groups in the area to organize this celebration of environmental action and our very own Highland Park.

For more information, contact Jason at thinkgreenfirst.net or 419-509-9263.

--Carol Scheiber

Vacant homes on your street? Tell us!

Following up on our first post, "Millions coming to South Toledo," we members of Highland Hts. Neighborhood Assn. encourage residents in the Burroughs School area and in the Highland Park area to post comments on this blog with the addresses of vacant or foreclosed homes. Or call Mary C. at the Toledo Heights Branch Library: 419-259-5220. Suggestions can be considered by our organization when we propose possible places for the city to invest. Learn more about the Neighborhood Stabilization Program by reading our brief posting about it (below) or by reading the more detailed description published by the Blade at: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090205/NEWS16/902050299. --Carol Scheiber, member

Millions of dollars coming to South Toledo

I enjoyed writing that headline! At our meeting on Feb. 12, 2009, Mike Badik, Toledo Housing Commissioner, explained how the Neighborhood Stabilization Program will affect Toledo and our neighborhood in particular.

Without going into a lot of detail (and there is a lot of detail in this federal program), Toledo is receiving $12.2 million to invest in housing in "tipping point" neighborhoods. The Highland Heights and Burroughs School areas are considered tipping points--stable, middle-class/working class areas in threat of serious deterioration. These South Toledo areas are second on the list of the four most critical areas for investment.

Monies will be used primarily to purchase and rehab vacant homes in concert with private developers. These will then be sold to applicants who must meet several criteria that will ensure that they will be responsible homeowners. The idea behind all of this money and effort is to strategically focus effort on a block that can be saved from deterioration by the addition of a stable homeowner in a solid home. The thinking is that this stable, well-kept home will then inspire and encourage more of the same, thereby preventing the neighborhood from "tipping" into slum.

HHNA will begin gathering the addresses of vacant homes that might be purchased via this program. If you have a suggestion, post it here on this blog, or email it to highland43609@gmail.com. --Written by Carol Scheiber, Member