The President’s Message in this issue revolves around the making of New Year’s resolutions, and BWNA’s first general meeting of the year aims at resolving some lingering issues as well—one of which is a tree planting in honor of beloved B-W resident and BWNA/CNN (Central Northeast Neighbors) Board member Gwen MacPherson. MacPherson who passed away just days after last August’s National Night Out Picnic at Wilshire Park—an event that was dear to her heart and one she worked diligently on. Accordingly, BWNA has invited the City Commissioner in charge of Parks and Recreation, Nick Fish, to be our featured speaker. A local resident, it will nonetheless be Commissioner Fish’s first appearance at a BWNA general meeting, and a much anticipated one. The meeting begins at 7:00 pm on February 11th at Bethany Lutheran Church, which is located on the corner of NE 37th Avenue and Skidmore Street across from Wilshire Park. The entrance to the basement meeting room is on the Skidmore side of the church. Light snacks and refreshments will be served.
In addition to the update on the Gwen MacPherson Memorial Project and the address from guest speaker Fish, the meeting will also feature a neighborhood crime report from a local police officer and progress reports on some other unfinished projects begun in 2012, including the Wilshire Park Mural Preservation effort, Pizzicato sign conversion construction, maintenance of the Wistaria Drive-Alameda stairwells, and the legal battle to block construction of a 4-story apartment building on Fremont Street. Additionally, plans will be made for the reorganization of April’s Taste of Beaumont General Meeting as well as the fielding of suggestions from the audience for new projects and activities to pursue in 2013. You are invited to participate in the shaping of our neighborhood for the year.