Meet Your Neighbors – Tom & Amanda

Meet Tom Long & Amanda Berard… Gretta and Harvey as well.

From: Amanda is from Hayward WI, Tom is originally from San Francisco and more recently from Chippewa Falls WI.

How long in the neighborhood: 10 months, February 09′

Family: Gretta, the white coat golden-doodle looking dog and Harvey the dark haired mix are both rescue dogs they had prior to moving to Beloit. Gretta loves to run, Harvey… he likes being carried.

Occupation: Amanda works for United Health Care and telecommutes managing her team from their home office. Tom works at Kerry as a commercial & operations controller – dairy division.

For Fun: They enjoy walking and playing with Gretta and Harvey. They’re into their Roku digital player for watching TV programming over the net. And on the other end of the technology spectrum Amanda knits, and very well too. Yes we’ve told her about the fanatic knitters in the neighborhood along with the when-n-where. Tom is looking to hone his handi-man skills with various projects planned for the house.

Community Involvement: As they’re new to the community and still settling in their focus has been on getting their new home set up.

Why this neighborhood: They had looked at homes in various communities in the state line area and as far south as Rockford. By chance they drove past the home on Bushnell and saw it for sale. Prior to moving to Beloit they’d lived in a new home where they were the first owner. They were intrigued by the distinctive architectural character of the old house. They contacted the realtor that afternoon and checked out the home that evening. Following that, looking at vintage homes elsewhere regionally they chose their Bushnell St. home. Tom appreciates having a short commute to work.

Best part of living here: They really enjoy being able to walk downtown. They particularly enjoy Nikki’s because they’re open late and they tend to work late. Having the park directly across the street is very nice and they’ve enjoyed events hosted there. They enjoy taking walks through the neighborhood looking at the old houses. There is a lot to do but regret that they’ve missed a number of things they’d have like to attended but they heard about too late.

Aspirations for the neighborhood community: It would be nice if there was a dog park nearby. Tom would also like to bike to work if there was a bike route available. They enjoy the growing number downtown restaurants and look forward to more downtown development of this sort.

Meet Tom & Amanda (and possibly Gretta & Harvey): You’ll bump into Tom & Amanda down at Nikki’s, usually late. You’ll see Gretta & Harvey out early walking their people around the neighborhood.

Click over to meet LaVaughn Kunny

Meet Your Neighbors – LaVaughn Kunny

Meet LaVaughn Kunny

From: Finley, North Dakota (north of Fargo – it’s very much like the movie)

How long in the neighborhood: 59 yrs. Moved in with Husband Bart in 1950.

Family: Husband Bart passed nine years ago. Three grown children, daughter, daughter, son. Bart was chairman of the biology department at Beloit College.

Occupation: Retired. Taught biology at Aldrich middle school.

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Community Involvements:

• - The Arts League of Beloit – Past president
• - SLU (Society for Learning Unlimited) – Founding member and past president
• - Beloit Historical Society – volunteer
• - Atonement Lutheran Church – member

Why this neighborhood: Bart had accepted a teaching position at Beloit College. Initially they moved into a rental home on the 700 block of Park. They subsequently purchased their home on Church. They moved into the neighborhood because of home values and proximity to work. Also, having studied art and architecture in college LaVaughn loved the character of their distinctive old house.

Best part about living here: LaVaughn loves her home, her neighbors and the neighborhood/community. With her appreciation for architecture and wanting to maintain the unique character of her home, subsequent updates to the home were done with professional architect design. As they entertained frequently they enlarged both the dining room and first floor bathroom.

As for the community, the best part is the diversity she and her family have enjoyed. Her children attended Wright School, Aldrich and BMHS and are the better for having experienced diversity in their education and upbringing. She’s proud of the diverse makeup of her and her children’s friendships.

LaVaughn loves being so close to the college. There is so much made available for the broader community that there is more to do then time to take advantage, and it’s so close.  She’s particularly fond of the symphony, Wright and Logan Museums.

Being a retired teacher she enjoys the affection of many former students who still go out of their way to show her their appreciation and friendship. She has lots of stories. Ask her and you’ll get her going. 

Aspirations for the neighborhood community: LaVaughn looks forward to ever more cultural diversity in the community. She’s particularly hopeful for more active involvement from Beloit’s Hispanic community.

Meet LaVaughn: “You’ll find me at out for lunch downtown somewhere.  Stop and say hello.”

Click over to meet Amanda Berard and Tom Long

Pleasant St Coffee House Closed

Some of us who frequented Pleasant St Coffee House…

came the day after it’s closing to have our own private goodbye.  Here’s what we left behind.  We hope others will feel free to add their own touch.  Our goal is to have as many people show their support for having a coffee shop nearby.

Join us for the wildest Equinox* party of the season!

It’s sure to be the biggest blowout Equinox* party

in the entire stateline area!

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You don’t want to miss it. It’s the Equinoxiest!

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Join us as we celebrate all our favorite equinox traditions including gathering around the piano singing equinox songs and enjoying traditional equinox cuisine.

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Saturday March 21st

7:00 PM until the hilarity subsides

110 West Grand Ave.

(Upstairs above Curves)

No R.S.V.P.  just come.

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Spring is fast coming upon us. We thought we should host a simple gathering to coax out the neighbors. Let’s welcome those we’ve not yet met and provide an opportunity for us all to get to know each other a bit more. It’s a pot luck so pull out Mom’s old favorite Equinox party recipe for a dish to pass or bring a traditional Equinox libation. BillD & DanB are letting us use their downtown suites for the bash. It’s a great space for a gathering. Later into the spring & summer we’ll take the party out doors. Come out and join us!

You’ll recall that at an equinox, the Sun is at one of two opposite points on the celestial sphere where the celestial equator (i.e., declination 0) and ecliptic intersect. These points of intersection are called equinoctial points—the vernal point and the autumnal point.

It’s such a wacky, raucous time!  Nothing like an ecliptic intersection to whip folks up into a frenzied party mood. Prizes for the best equinoctial costume!

Each year BillD’s celestial sphere interpretive dance gets better and better. You don’t want to miss it.

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The view from Equinox party central:

Interior of Equinox party central:

 

B.B

What past N P A Equinox partygoers have to say:

You guys throw the wildest Equinox parties we’ve ever been to. We come every year and wouldn’t miss it. All the wicked cool party animal hipsters like us were there. The Equinox food was the best we’d ever had. We’ll be back for the next ecliptic intersection.

~ Candy, Brad and Sara Cheveux

By the way… our own PaulD will be teaching a cooking class, Kitchen Basics: Pot Roast just down the block at bushel and pecks earlier that day then heading over to the party directly afterwards. A number of us will be taking the class. There may still be some openings if you’d like to join the folks there too. Phone Jackie at 308-363-3911 or just stop by the store.

* Actually Equinox is the day before on Friday but hey… what’s a degree or two of declination between friends.

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Next meeting agenda: Mon. 2/9

Hope you can make it out this evening. Please join us.

Agenda:

• Old Agenda:
  • Brief intro to website updates & Neighbor’s Directory
  • Not-for-profit organizational set up
    • Beloit NPA draft bylaws/amendments/approval
    • Election of officers
  • Committee Reports
    • Neighborhood Action -spokesmodel
    • Programs Development -spokesmodel
    • Marketing & PR – Rick
  • Updates – Other
    • Landmarks Commission & Horace White Park – Marge F.
    • Downtown Business Association – Becky M.
    • Rock County & Beloit 2020 – Bob F.
    • School District – Emma C.
    • Beloit College – John W.
    • City Council, Police Dept., Plan Commission – Volunteer(s)?
• New Agenda:
  • Any new agenda from meeting attendees
  • Plan Commission vacancies
  • Neighborhood apartment buildings (Park Street, Emerson Hall, Harrison Steet)
  • City’s paint program & Neighborhood Housing Services
  • Block captains & spring time block parties?
• Housekeeping
  • Meeting frequency
  • Neighborhood Directory – sign up & pics

Beloit NPA Committees Forming, Meeting…

and beginning to work on ’stuff’.

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Sittn’ & Knittn’ has gone co-ed!

It’s getting pretty full back there. Gonna’ need to start taking reservations soon.

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knitting fiends… er, uhm… friends

They had a great turn out. By the time I showed up late for the men’s auxilery to grab a pic several of the women had already left for the evening. DebD, MargaretB, Wanda, MagdaV, PeggyL, MargeF, CarolS and AnaK all showed, shared and evidently had a grand time. I understand they’ll be meeting again the same time next week, 4:00, 1/14, Pleasant Street Coffeehouse.

Church Street Monthly Coffee (1/4/09)

A very enjoyable time as per usual. I don’t think anyone wanted to leave. We hung around yaking for quite some time. I’m guessing there were about a dozen of us. Seems most of the conversation was around the schools and the various educational programs, recent changes, and current initiatives. We talked alot about Horace White park and what’s going on there. We talked about some intriguing upcoming holiday events we may initiate. (more on this as it comes together. shhhh) We talked about city government. A bunch of stuff top-of-mind for the Church Street residents. We’ve a lot of very involved and informed folks among us.

As counter point to the higher minded subjects discussed above, on a more pedestrian note…   Given how treacherously icy out it was I was fascinated by a pair of Yaktrax one in the group had used to walk to the gathering.

As an advocate of walking the neighborhood I thought these were very cool. I understand they’re available over at Stanton’s down town. It only takes one spill under these conditions to knock one out of commission. Anyway, I thought these were very cool and will likely pick up a pair.

Thanks MarkP For The New Header!

So what’cha think? Nice eh?

I’ve wanted to have a more appropriate header for the site since its inception. I just don’t have those skills. Most of you likely know MarkP and are familiar with his talents. He’s done me and us a big favor in helping us out with this. I understand it’s not fully what he thinks is possible, so this will likely continue to evolve over time.

Thanks MarkP!

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