RWNA News
Annual Potluck Picnic-In-The-Park 2010
Bluegrass musicians, pet chickens, delicious food, beautiful weather and friendly neighbors all came together for a fabulous annual neighborhood picnic in Hoffman Park on Sunday, April 18, 2010. This year’s picnickers ranged from the very young (a 10-day old baby girl) to seniors in their 80s and 90s, from brand new residents to those who have lived in Rosemont West since the late 1940s.
Using the official “hot dog crowd estimator” method, the grill masters believe between 150-160 neighbors enjoyed the spring Sunday afternoon at tables festooned with gently bobbing balloons and desert marigold bouquets. Live music was supplied by the delightful Chicken Whisperers bluegrass trio (Michele, Brian and Mary Jane—all grad students at the U of A). The music provided a perfect background to neighbors reconnecting or making new friends under the shady trees and up on (or down under) the play structure.
The picnic also featured three special egg-laying hens (Sarah--a Plymouth Rock, Johnny--a Black Star and Furball—an Americana) who belong to musician and neighborhood residents Michele and Andrew. Their friend and fellow “chicken expert” Christine spent the afternoon sharing the tame chickens with adoring kids and grown-ups alike. Did you know that one hen can lay 200-300 eggs in a year? Did you know that they like fruit, veggies, grass, weeds, bugs and Oreos?
A big thank you to the Heimanns who supplied the sound system and recorded golden-oldie background music, the Rosemont West Board members who planned the picnic, staked the claim on the park ramada, set up, decorated and cleaned up, shopped for the food, cooked the food, set up and played blongoball, took memberships, and gave out information on Neighborhood Watch and our neighborhood service/business directory. And a special thank you to everyone who brought the delicious potluck items—there were very few leftovers—and shared in our special Rosemont West Neighborhood tradition.
Christmas Lights around the neighborhood
Many of our neighbors decorated beautifully for the 2008 holiday season.
 
 
Want to reserve a ramada at Hoffman Park?
The two ramadas at Hoffman Park are back on the Parks & Recreation reservation system. Here are the basic rules. For complete information visit
http://www.ci.tucson.az.us/parksandrec/:
How to Make a Reservation
Call or visit one of the Parks and Recreation District Offices or Parks Administration to make a reservation. Always have your reservation confirmation in your possession during your use of the facility. (East District Office 791-5930). Failure to clean up may result in a cleaning deposit for future use.
Reservation Times
Half day: 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. or 2 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Full day: 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Changes In City Graffiti Abatement Program
As of November 10, 2008, the City of Tucson will no longer re-move:
- graffiti from waste containers
- graffiti from alleys
- stickers on poles
- or respond to requests for neighborhood sweeps
Graffiti cannot always be prevented, but property owners and residents can reduce the incidence of graffiti on building exteriors and walls by having good lighting and uncomfortable vegetation in place.
Work with your neighbors, your neighborhood association or home owners’ association to be the eyes and ears for your com-munity.
Putting graffiti on public or private property is against the law. If you see someone in the act of “tagging,” call 911. If the graffiti is already in place, call 792-CITY (792-2489) to report it. Graffiti left in place tends to attract more graffiti.
If you are a property owner or resident, you can try washing off graffiti or painting it over yourself. If you don’t have access to paint, or the surface is a block or brick wall and you need assistance, call 792-CITY (792-2489) to report it.
Solar Electric Installation in Rosemont West
Anyone driving east on Cooper in the past few months has probably admired the impressive solar array at 4933 E. Cooper.
Sara and Victor, the homeowners, are among the first in the neighborhood to go “green” on this scale.
On Friday, February 22, 2008, the electric meter at 4933 E. Cooper began rolling backwards as the home’s new PV system
began generating energy. This PV system is composed of 16 photovoltaic panels secured to the south facing roof and includes
other equipment that connects to Tucson Electric Power Corporation.
Final Report from the Back to Basics Grant
The Back to Basics work has all been completed!
We have a new perimeter path around Hoffman Park, a handicap accessible path to the ramada, a new ramada, sidewalks on Niven and Winsett,
and a scupper bridge over Arroyo Chico wash on Winsett, creating a safe passage for students walking to Bonillas School during rainstorms.
It’s been a long process, but the results are definitely worth it.
Thanks to Fred Ronstadt, the city council person for Ward VI at the time, who awarded the grant to RWNA.
Thanks also to Monique Martin, assistant to Ward VI office, who patiently shepherded us through the years-long process.
Picnic In The Park - April 2008
Over 100 people are believed to have come to the picnic, making it one of our largest gatherings.
The Utterback Middle School Jazz Band was in attendance and made great music for our neighborhood celebration.
The new ramada was a great location and the weather was fantastic.
The hot dog count, over 120, is the largest number served at any picnic and we also had a surprising number of new neighbors show up.
Thanks to Barb Haffner for arranging the chairs and tables and to everyone for helping before and after,
along with Lorenia getting the food and Elsie cooking all the hot dogs.
Bylaws Change - Street Contacts - 2008
At the last meeting the Bylaws committee has reviewed the bylaws and charter and has concluded
that we should rename the positions as follows:
- Executive Board Members: President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
- RWNA Board Members: All Rosemont West Neighborhood Representatives.
- Street Contacts: People who will volunteer to deliver RWNA materials to specific streets but are not required to attend board meetings.
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