Spring Neighborhood Association Meeting Summary

Interested residents gathered for 1 of 3 annual meetings of the Tech Terrace/UNIT neighborhood.

For those of you who did not attend, the best part of the April 28, 2011 UNIT Neighborhood Association Meeting was sitting next to Jeff Lee, aka Windyman, and Dudley Winn of the Bros. Winn.  

President Susan Tomlinson opened the meeting in the Hutchinson Middle School Cafeteria at 6:00 sharp. 37 residents attended.   An agenda was posted and minutes were available.  There were no guest introductions.  After approval of the minutes from the January 2011 meeting, President Tomlinson requested each speaker to give their name.  The president presented an update of the 34th Street Project.  34th Street is envisioned to be the "Main Street" of the area with the street resurfacing from Q to Indiana, widening of the streets to include bike lanes, and the improvement of lighting and sidewalks- steps to make the area more pedestrian and bike friendly.  Parkhill, Smith and Cooper will prepare designs for the enhancements.  The Association is working with the 34th Street Merchants on this project.  Some ideas include a Farmers' Market or some other destination event or festival for the area.  President Tomlinson also mentioned the possibility of a 10% discount for residents of UNIT at 34th Street businesses. 

President Tomlinson then addressed the East of Boston Initiative.  The homes east of Boston Avenue have "unique issues" and the UNIT board is committed to addressing them.  The board will host a meeting with East of Boston residents at 2:00 on May 15th at J&B Coffee.  John Winker will distribute flyers to all of those residents. 

The Lee and Marjorie Manning Garden of Honor project is on schedule.  It includes a bench and mini garden spot.  12 donation slots are still available.  Folks interested in donating should contact Laurin Prather at lwprather@sbcglobal.net.

Helen Liggett coordinated her presentation outfit with the cafeteria.

Helen Liggett then presented the Aesthetics Committee update.  She reported that Shakespeare in the Park will return to Wagner Park this summer with the production of Merry Wives of Windsor.  She then turned the floor over to Zac Garth for an update on the Wagner Park Pavilion.  He was asked to design a renovation for the pavilion as an alternative to the City razing the existing historic structure and replacing it with a less maintenance intensive pavilion.   Zac detailed the main issue with the existing pavilion is the flat roof.  His design adds a sloped roof to the existing structure and preserves the original design.  He described the design as "basic, simple and elegant."  The City allocated $80,000 to replace the pavilion.  Zac clarified it should be more than enough to renovate and update the Pavilion.  Helen Liggett added that the design includes an upgrade to the bathrooms, but she recommends that the Association not pursue that step at this point.  No mention of current restroom access was discussed.   Holle Humphreys asked if the existing lighting would be removed and if additional exterior lighting would be installed.  Zac replied that no lighting would be removed and the design allows for exterior lighting.  Helen then requested a motion to approve the basic design and submit it to the City.  Motion was approved.

Design submitted to City Parks and Rec by Association.

Helen then asked for volunteers for the garden and for gardening ideas.  She requested suggestions be sent to her email at helenlig@yahoo.com.  Helen reported that the Association has $4,000 to maintain the three garden beds in Tech Terrace and Wagner Parks.  There was some discussion about the adequacy of that amount.  Paul Pare asked if the possibility of sponsorships had been discussed.  He specifically mentioned Little Red Nursery and Home Depot.  Holle Humphreys asked if an internship for a student studying landscape design had been considered.  After some more discussion, the Association voted to approve $4,000 for garden bed maintenance and for Helen to pursue sponsorship opportunites. 

President Tomlinson then reported that Laura Andersen stepped down from her position as Social Chair.  That position as well as the chair of the newly created City Relations Committee need folks.  The City Relations Committee will work with City Staffers to address issues such as codes enforcement. 

At the start of new business, Melanie Barnes requested that the Association increase its donation to the Westwinds Brass Band from $500 to $750.  Kirk Rodriguez reported the Association has $19K in the bank.  John Winker and Mary Vines reported that the Holiday Home Tour only takes in between $5K and $6K per year and that the event may be becoming tired.  Dudley Winn suggested a new fundraiser but did not mention anything specific.  The motion to increase the donation to the Westwinds Brass Band to $750 was approved. 

Dudley Winn likes the Tech kids.

Eileen Dean asked about the chili cook off that was proposed for the fall.  It just fell through the cracks.

Jerry from 31st and Boston reported that a property owner renovating a house near him was promoting to rent his 3BR property by the bedroom- in violation of the more than Two Unrelated Residents Code.  Jerry also said the property owner was marketing an unregistered apartment.  UNIT News vows to investigate.  President Tomlinson said this issue is a good example of the types of items the City Relations Committee would consider.  She then told the group that the board has ideas on how to address permanent resident/student resident relations and that the culture of the neighborhood must change.  People are less likely to act in a disrespectful manner if they know their neighbors. 

Dena Pearson suggested that residents call 311 to report code violations.
Paul Pare floated the idea of a neighborhood event at the end of Tour de Tech Terrace as a means to develop rapport with our student residents. 

Carolyn Jones (left) 24th Street resident and a guest YWCA staff member.

Carolyn Jones promoted the aquatics programs available at the YWCA and Sun-n-Fun.

Holle Humphreys reported that since April 24th, 6 bounce houses have been erected in Wagner Park- damaging the grass and sprinkler heads.  President Tomlinson and Holle discussed the damage to Bermuda Grass from the bounce houses.  Holle reported she has compiled three years worth of data on the effects of bounce houses on Wagner Park and forwarded her report to the City for possible ordinance consideration.  UNIT News will request a copy of this report. 

Dena Pearson asked the Association to approve $900 for Movies in the Park this summer.  Motion passed. 

No reports given from Safety, Communications, Holiday Home Tour, or Social Committees. 

The next regular Association meeting is scheduled for October 27th.

President Tomlinson adjourned the meeting at 7:30 pm.

Tech Terrace Neighbors Helping Others

Tech Terrace Residents Larry and Julie Doss (on right)  hosted the inaugural Fashion in Action event on April 20th. This style show featured local talent sporting fashions from Dillards.   The event benefitted the Legal Aid Society of Lubbock which works to afford low income clients in Bailey, Cochran, Crosby, Floyd, Garza, Hale, Hockley, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn, Terry, and Yoakum, counties with first-rate legal assistance, advocacy, and quality counsel in matters of family and elder law.

Car and Bike Rally to Raise Awareness About Child Abuse

Tech Terrace resident Ami Hill-Rendon is the coordinator for this huge event.  Internationally renowned artist and neighborhood resident Carol Howell will also be on hand to sign commemorative posters of her painting "Take a Child's Hand."   Should be a lot of fun.

From LubbockOnline:
Bike and Car Show
 What: Blue Ribbon Rally Car and Bike Show.
 When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
 Where: Depot District, between 16th and 19th streets.
 Cost: Free.
 Information: Call Ami Hill-Rendon, 747-5577 or visit http://www.blueribbonrally.com/.

Car enthusiasts looking for a new ride can head out to the Depot District on Saturday and try their luck at winning a new Harley Davidson while having fun with family and friends and raising awareness about child abuse.



The Family Guidance Outreach Center of Lubbock will hold the Blue Ribbon Rally Car and Bike Show from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. between the blocks of 16th and 19th streets.


Event coordinator Ami Hill-Rendon said the rally will have a street fair atmosphere and 30 vendors will be present, selling everything from jewelry to turkey legs.


More than 200 show cars will be featured in addition to several different classes and types of motorcycles.


Everything from antiques to low-riders will be featured, Hill-Rendon said. Trophies and ribbons will be awarded for the best cars and bikes.


Artist Carol C. Howell will be at the rally to sign commemorative posters of her painting “Take a Child’s Hand,” from 1 to 3 p.m.


If the weather permits, kids can have some fun in inflatable jumpers or have their faces painted in the Kids’ Corner. They can also win prizes in the ice cream scoop contest sponsored by Baskin-Robbins during Family Fun Hour.


“It’s just a safe environment where families can come and enjoy the day,” Hill-Rendon said.


Local artists Mojave Sol, Texas Brew, Owen Franklin, Sober by Sunday and Two Days Forever will provide live music throughout the day. While admission is free, tickets for a chance to win a 2011 Harley-Davidson Soft Tail Deluxe, which retails for $18,200, will be available for $30 each or four tickets for $100.


The rally to is the center’s marquee event and is held during National Child Abuse Prevention Month, to raise awareness about the center’s efforts in promote healthy families and prevent child abuse.


Executive director of the center, Lynnette Wilson, said all proceeds from the rally will go toward the educational programs the center provides for families.

In 2010, 242 children died as a result of child abuse, Wilson said. She and the center hopes to one day bring that number down to zero.


“Our belief is that it shouldn’t hurt to be a child,” Wilson said. “Our goal is to raise awareness, and let people know this is a real problem, and they should get behind it.”


Hill-Rendon said 2011 is the center’s sixth year hosting the Blue Ribbon Bike and Car Rally, and each year the program grows it sheds more light on the center and the issues it hopes to resolve. “I think people enjoy it because they can come, have fun with their family, and prevent child abuse,” she said. “They can come and find out how to direct others in getting help, and that’s our mission.”

City Redistricting Meeting

From the City of Lubbock Website
NOTICE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING ON REDISTRICTING OF THE CITY OF LUBBOCK


Lubbock is a home rule city governed by Article XI, section 5 of the Texas Constitution. Since Lubbock elects six of its council members from single member districts, the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution requires under the principle of “one-person one-vote” that all the districts have essentially the same number of people. Also, Texas and its political subdivisions are jurisdictions covered by the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and as subsequently amended. Under Section 5 of the Act, the Attorney General of the United States must preclear all voting changes before they may be implemented. The Attorney General must determine that all voting changes made by the city do not have a discriminatory purpose or effect upon the rights of minorities to vote.

The Attorney General’s regulations strongly encourage community input into the process. Therefore, a public hearing will be held for the purpose of securing community comment upon the proposed redistricting plan. The date, time, and location of the public hearings are as follows:

District 1: Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 3:30 p.m. at Cavazos Middle School (Cafeteria) 210 N. University Avenue, Lubbock, TX 79415

District 2: Monday, May 16, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at Alderson Middle School (Cafeteria) 219 Walnut Avenue, Lubbock, TX 79403

District 3: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at Roscoe Wilson Elementary (Cafeteria) 2807 25th Street, Lubbock, TX 79410

District 4: Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at Honey Elementary (Cafeteria) 3615 86th Street, Lubbock, TX 79423

District 5: Sunday, May 1, 2011 at 3:30 p.m. at Irons Middle School (Cafeteria) 5214 79th Street, Lubbock, TX 79424

District 6: Monday, May 2, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at Mackenzie Middle School (Cafeteria) 5402 W. 12th Street, Lubbock, TX 79416



All citizens of the city of Lubbock are encouraged to attend and participate in these important public hearings.

Reader Submitted Graffiti Pics

Readers submitted the following images that further document the graffiti issue in the UNIT Neighborhood.

Graffiti increasing in the neighborhood

Dear Tech Terrace Neighbors,

Please help UNIT News request graffiti abatement in Tech Terrace by calling the City of Lubbock at 311 or use the following link:.  http://codes.ci.lubbock.tx.us/codesInfoPage.aspx?ID=32

The following photos taken this morning highlight this troublesome issue:

20th & Flint

 Roscoe Wilson Gym

 Tech Terrace Park Drainage Overflow

25th Street East of Flint

There are other graffiti tags throughout the neighborhood including alleys and businesses.  Please send photos to UNIT News.  The City of Phoenix has a model abatement program found at the following link.  http://phoenix.gov/NSD/grafeng.pdf

Bicycle Polo at Wagner Park

LPD has received several phone calls regarding bicyclists playing polo on the Wagner Park Tennis Courts. Police have responded and found nothing illegal about the activity.  Several residents have concerns about possible damage to the court surface.  The boys play with plastic mallets, remove the nets prior to playing and replace them when finished.  Specifically prohibited activities in the park include golfing and horseback riding.  The polo players invite curious neighbors to stop by and learn more about this former Olympic exhibition sport.  

UNIT News received the following email from one of the polo cyclists:

Hello!

We really appreciate you coming out to see us and chat the other night. We get a bad rap because we have such a non-standard sport and there is a serious lack of understanding by most people, even other cyclists and it was good to see you out there interested and supportive of what we were doing. In addition to thanking you, I also wanted to make you aware that after talking to three different police officers on three different nights, and listening to all of them tell us that we just needed to keep it down and observe posted park curfew (12AM), we were finally asked to leave by a fourth unfamiliar officer who came with the City Code of Ordinances, citing ordinances that I have been unable to validate. I speak for myself and all of my cycling companions when I say that we were deeply offended by this, especially because there is no place in the Code of Ordinances citing our specific activity as unlawful. We look forward to your upcoming report on bike polo and the continued participation of cyclists and the community in our slightly haphazard event.

Best,Matthew Betz

Tech Terrace Residents Honored

Several residents of Tech Terrace earned various honors recently:


The Lubbock Professional Chapter of the Association for Women in Communications has chosen this year’s recipients of its Headliner Awards, Gold Medalist Awards and the Louise Allen Award.

•Gold Medalist Award — Terry Hawkins and Dr. Doug Klepper, for working to improve the quality of life in the Lubbock area.

http://lubbockonline.com/local-news/2011-04-12/association-women-communications-announces-recipients-headliner-awards

University Medical Center named Tech Terrace resident Mike Ragain, MD  their new Chief Medical Officer. Mike and his wife Melanie have two, above average children- Meg a freshman at Lubbock High, and Matt a sixth grader at Hutch Middle School.

Neighborhood students advance to UIL area in Lubbock High School's One Act Play.  The production of "The Love of a Nightingale" features Tech Terrace neighborhood students including Anna Marie Pratas (left) and Taylor Liggett (right) pictured below.



City forbids grilling in parks, for now

The City of Lubbock's Parks and Recreation Department is temporarily banning outdoor grilling in all City parks until further notice. Due to the extreme dry conditions and heightened fire potential, the use of all types of outdoor grilling devices is not allowed. This ban applies to the permanent grills located in City parks as well as all portable grills.


Section 16 of the City's Code of Ordinances allows the regulation of park activities when necessitated by reason of public health and safety. The City's Code of Ordinances can be found on the City of Lubbock website, http://www.mylubbock.us/

1,300 Riders in Spring 2011 Tour de Tech Terrace

The spring 2011 Tour de Tech Terrace took place Saturday afternoon from 3:00-7:00pm.  An estimated 1,300 riders saddled up, dressed up, drank up at a cost of 3 canned goods per cyclist.

Tech student and neighborhood resident Austin Keith, organizer of another successful Tour.

Canned food donations benefitting the South Plains Food Bank.

A visible police presence helps create a safe atmosphere for all.

 The tour brought out a cast of characters.

Editor's Favorite Indian!

Davis Smith?

"Roberto!" A crowd favorite and crosswalk gladiator.