Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Citywide Cleanup

All (city employees, neighborhood groups, residents, (et al):



The annual Citywide Cleanup will be Saturday, May 2, 2009.



If you haven't signed up a team, yet...what are you waiting for?



The deadline for advance registration is Monday, April 20, 2009. To ensure that enough materials are available (i.e. trash bags, safety vests, etc.), advance registration is encouraged.



If you have any questions or want to sign up yourself or a team, call Margaret Powell at 501-340-5305 or email her at Mpowell@northlittlerock.ar.gov.

Lakewood Neighborhood Group

Be Your Neighbor’s Keeper!

Thursday night at 7:00 – Lakewood Neighborhood Group

Lakewood Methodist Church, Room W2

Upper Breezeway



Lakewood = Neighborhood Blight

Never thought you’d see those two together, did you?



Did you know the choices your neighbors make could be taking $5000 to $15,000 (maybe more) off the value of your home and

seriously compromising the safety of our community?



What’s a “storage house” and what can be done about it?

Is there specific legislation about upkeep and expectations for rental properties?



This month’s meeting will feature NLR Code talking to us about what constitutes a violation and how to handle it so that your friendly neighbor stays your friendly neighbor.



Officer Sorrells will also explain the urban planning and enforcement idea called Broken Windows – unfortunately, it applies to Lakewood! We have work to do.



Shawn and Celeste (with lots of help from Council folks) will update you on the new parking code – where Lakewood is in the process and how it will impact our neighborhood. Lakewood Recreation Improvement Commission took an important first step last night.



Look forward to seeing you there!

Please pass this on to your neighbors – and to all those interested in keeping

Lakewood as a neighborhood built on high expectations and community pride.

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Argenta News-Magazine salesman

Magazine Salesman in the Neighborhood (UPDATE) PDF Print E-mail
Written by Scott Miller (Argenta News)
Thursday, April 02 2009

Just got the following e-mail from an Argenta resident about a door to door magazine saleman working Willow Street in Argenta.

Just had a young man who identified himself as Antonio come to the door claiming to be taking part in some kind of "communications contest." Supposedly it's to help him become a better communicator and earn money to start a business. Bottom line: It's the old magazine subscription sales push to earn "points" toward some reward (trip to Cancun, he said). Can't speak to this kid's legitimacy, but last time someone I know bought a magazine through one of these deals the subscription never arrived. You might want to post something on the blog; he was a young guy, Asian descent, well-dressed and well-spoken, pushy in a trying-to-be-humorous way ("I was just at the neighbor's house and they sent me over here to have breakfast"). Had cards in plastic protectors but the only ID he offered was what he'd written in the blanks on the cards.

These guys are REQUIRED to have a NLR Peddlers License and it should look like this. If they don't have a peddlers license call the police. Often these door to door "salesmen" use the opportunity to get a peek inside your house and see of it is worth coming back and robbing. A legitimate magazine salesman will get a peddlers license and must show it to you upon request.

(UPDATE) Alderwoman Ross reports a different person with the same sales pitch was working Sherwood recently and her checks with the City revealed this group does NOT have a NLR peddlers license. She has notified NLRPD to be on lookout for them, but if you see them, call NLRPD immediately and make sure you give a good description.

Thanks for the info Scott.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Update on LNG meeting

First and foremost, our friend Bill at NLR Code is undergoing unexpected heart surgery - let's all keep him in our thoughts and prayers.

So, we are postponing Bill's presentation until he is recovered. Instead, the person presenting a program we had planned for later in the Spring has agreed to come this week. Nechi Fullerton from Heifer International had asked to be able to speak to our group about programs and opportunities at Heifer. If any of you have never been to their facility out on Hwy. 10, I understand it's amazing! We're going to get a first hand picture.

Look forward to seeing you on Thursday at 7:00 at Lakewood Methodist in W2.
There will be a Taize service going on too - don't worry that there won't be any seats left in our meeting! :)

Celeste & Shawn

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Lakewood Neighborhood Group meeting

We look forward to seeing everyone at the regular monthly meeting of The Lakewood Neighborhood Group.
It will be on Thursday at 7:00 - Lakewood Methodist Church in Room W2 (Upper breezeway).

The topic of this month's meeting is:

"Being Your Brother's Keeper: The Importance of Being Vigilante in Maintaining Your Neighborhood's Value."

NLR Code Enforcement will be talking to us about what to do and how to deal with "unsightly" problems in our neighborhoods that can cause all of our property values to decrease and that are the beginning of neighborhood blight.
You'd be suprised how much of a problem this really is - even in Lakewood!

We'll continue this conversation in the coming months - talking with a Lakewood real estate agent about property values (maintaining them and how our neighbors can affect them) and about theories such as Broken Windows that addresses these topics.

Hope to see you Thursday!
Shawn and Celeste

Saturday, February 21, 2009

NLR City Council Agenda for February 23rd

This is the link for Monday nights agenda
http://www.northlittlerock.ar.gov/government/agenda.asp

Lakewood Neighborhood Group February 19th 2009

Shawn &
Celeste
Archer
Meeting brought to order.

Captain
Tetkoski
Fire Dept
Station #5 responded to 9,549 incidents in 2008. In January of 2009 there were 120 incidents. There have been 3 chimney fires recently. This is caused by creosol build up in the chimney. Chimneys should be cleaned every 1-2 years by a chimney sweep or kits can be bought had your local hardware store to do it yourself.

Officer
Sorrells
Police
Dept:
Several suspects have been arrested for breaking into residences. Breaking and entering in cars is still a problem. Most car doors have been left unlocked. Please remember to lock car doors and take valuables inside your house or lock in trunk.

This is the time of year we will see and increase in people going door-to-door offering to do yard work. If the do not have a city license with a placard call the police (911), if they do have a placard you do not have to answer you door.

Most magazine sales door-to-door are not legitimate. Be aware around malls and shopping centers for people looking for a handout.


Shawn: Bert Turner reports that work to restore the Old Mill has started.

Celeste: City leaf pick-up will continue to March the 6th. You have to call and schedule a pick up.

THEA will have a student art show. Lakewood Elem. will be on display May 1st, NLR West May 4th-15th, and NLR school district NLR Elem school art show will be May 18th-29th. THEA is located at 401 Main street North Little Rock.

Beth
White
Alderman:
NLR Clean Up day will be in May.

Mayor Hays is in Washington regarding the stimulus package and money that will be available for North Little Rock.

Bedford Camera:
A presentation was given for making a photo inventory of belongings and personal items that have value to the homeowner.

Next meeting will be Thursday March 19th at the Lakewood Methodist Church at 7pm.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Leaf Pickup

Received from Debi Ross:
Please spread the word that the city leaf pickup is on an on call basis only now. If you need leaves picked up please call Public Works @ 371-8345 by March 6th. The equipment will be stored for the season after March 6th. Any remaining leaves will have to be bagged after March 6th.