(Note of explanation: This from an e-mail sent yesterday by Averill Woods Neighborhood Association President Melissa Quon Huber to South Precinct Captain Theresa Symanski. )
Capt. Szymanski, thanks again for the wonderful support from LPD!!!!
Here are some things that came up later in the meeting that I needed to pass along:
PROBLEM: Speeding (and extra traffic) along Averill, Malibu, Continental, & Deerfield because of the Holmes/Waverly road closure
REQUEST: Can you enhance patrols of this area and issue tickets?
I’ve also made these requests of Andy Kilpatrick ( city transportation engineer) which will hopefully also help:
Add temporary stop signs to interior intersections to prevent a “straight shot” through the neighborhood.
Add temporary speed bumps to help slow the traffic
Bring the mobile traffic speed monitors into the neighborhood
Add permanent speed limit signs on Averill by the elementary school (One of our youth residents noticed that we have no speed limit signs anywhere in our neighborhood and that would be helpful even after Holmes and Waverly are re-opened)
In this four-minute video of Lansing School District’s John Parks, head of security, details are provided about lighting changes at Averill School on the city’s southwest side. He shared this information at last night’s meeting of the Averill Woods Neighborhood Association.
The school’s playground has been an afterhours gathering spot where most recently there has been a shooting and other violent activty.
The lighting changes, according to Parks, will result in upgraded lighting intensity turning night into day in the playground area with the improvements which will result in minimal cost to the school district.
PLEASE NOTE: This is from an e-mail mailed by Melissa Quon Huber, president of the Averill Woods Neighborhood Association about last night’s meeting. Check the good news announced at the monthly meeting.
Just a quick heads up with some good great news….
Jim Davis (Assistant Superintendent of Lansing Schools) and John Parks (Head of Security for Lansing Schools) informed us tonight that all the new and improved lighting at Averill Elementary School should be in place by Friday, July 31st (except for one new light pole which will have to be installed later.)
We will get brighter and more efficient light bulbs and new filters to increase light output on existing lights.
We will also be getting some additional lighting.
They will be positioning all lights to shine on the back of the school property.
To top it off, the majority of the costs for the improvements are being offset by cost-savings from using more energy-efficient equipment.
We expect that the lights will be quite bright. However, lights will not be directed at residential areas.
If your property borders the backside of the school, (e.g., Averill, Gingersnap, Sunderland, or Kilberry) you may notice the increased lighting from your home.
Please let us know how the lights affect your ability to see on to the school property.
Please share this information with your neighbors to let them know this is part of a larger crime prevention effort intended to benefit them.
This major accomplishment is a testament to the hard work and commitment of neighbors (Michelle Napier-Dunning, Jason Wilkes), Lansing Schools (John Parks, Jim Davis, Rosa Thill, Ken Jones), and Lansing Board of Water and Light (Roger Adsit, Calvin Jones) and probably even more folks working behind the scenes. I’m sorry if I forgot anyone!
Lots of positive things to talk about from tonight’s Averill Woods Neighborhood Association meeting. Concerns expressed by residents are being addressed. Check this blog tomorrow for details. In the meantime, here are some photos from the meeting:
Tonight’s meeting of the Averill Woods Neighborhood Association starts at 5:30 pm with a light supper to be followed by the business meeting at 6 pm with an agenda that concentrates on two recent shootings in the area. Reports will be given from a wide-variety of groups on actions to deal with concerns.
The Averill Woods Neighborhood Association has been busy looking at our challenges and drafting a strategic plan to deal with them. Making use of the varied strengths and expertise represented in our southwest Lansing area, the association has identified top concerns and is working to empower residents to find and implement effective responses.
We need you (youth and adults) to take pictures of the people and places we love in our neighborhood.
We need photos that reflect the diversity of age, race, occupation, family composition, and talents in our neighborhood.
We need photos of neighbors interacting with others or enjoying the neighborhood outdoors in a variety of ways (walking the dog, washing the car, riding bikes, running through the sprinkler, playing at the park, mowing the lawn, etc.) or working on their hobbies. Keep reading →
We’re going to make Averill Woods Neighborhood Association T-shirts and sweatshirts available for sale.
We’re hoping everyone in the family will want to order one and help spread the word about this fabulous neighborhood! Here’s your chance to wear your neighborhood pride on your sleeve!
But we need some creative minds to help us design a recognizable “Averill Woods” t-shirt .
PRIZE: The creator of the winning design(s) will receive a free Averill Woods T-shirt based on their design(s).
CATEGORIES: You can enter in two categories:
(1) Catch phrase - Create a short statement or catch phrase that can be lettered on the back of the shirt and embodies the positive spirit of our neighborhood. This can be submitted as a text file or imbedded in email.
(2) Graphic - Create a graphic image with or without a catch phrase that embodies the positive spirit of our neighborhood. You can specify colors or black and white. This should be submitted as a .jpg or .png file. Keep reading →
UPDATE: There will be a light meal served at 5:30 pm with the regular meeting starting at 6 pm.
If you live in Lansing’s (MI) southwest side Averill Woods neighborhood, then you’re invited to and needed at the next meeting of its neighborhood association which will be held at 6 pm, Thursday, July 23 at Trinity AME Church, 3500 W Holmes Rd.
The meeting is particularly important in the aftermath of a shooting at the Averill School playground and a shooting murder in the school’s neighborhood.
The association has been successful in drawing together neighborhood residents and other stakeholders including the Lansing Police Department and the Lansing School District to take proactive measures to improve the school’s safety footprint that involves an adjacent woods, as well as the playground.
As I get more details, I will share them here.
Important meeting: Averill Woods Neighborhood Association at Thursday, June 23
In this video, Lansing (MI) Council-member A’Lynne Robinson talks about neighborhood fireworks with her southside constituents at her monthly Second-Saturday meeting. She shared information about the city’s fireworks ordinance, the Lansing Police Department’s enforcement of it during this July 4th holiday and the number of complaints the city police received.
PLEASE NOTE: I will also publish a post later today or tomorrow about the discussion on how to deal with the growing number of complaints about illegal fireworks being set-off inside the city limits.
