See also: Past newsletters

April 2001

756 16th Street * Des Moines, IA 50314 * (515) 284-5717

Sponsored by the Sherman Hill Neighborhood Association. Since 1977, dedicated to the restoration and improvement of the historic neighborhood, the enhancement of the social environment, and the encouragement of civic pride.

WHAT'S INSIDE President's Column Association Updates Vent Pipes Recalled Water Damage Congratulations Noisy neighbors Year 2000 Successes Landlord Problems Why people live in Victorians Another Green World SHA EVENTS Quarterly Meeting Monday, May 14 at Hoyt Sherman Potluck - 6:30 PM Meeting - 7:00 PM SCRUB Saturday, June 2, 8 am - 12 pm Dumpster at 600 block of 20th Street Potluck - 4:00 PM at 755 20th Street Botanical Annuals Delivery May 18-20 Contact Bret McFarlin 280-6320 4th of July picnic at Bowlsby Garden or T. Fred Henry Park Keep lookout for flyer

President's Column Dear Friends, Now that our blanket of snow has been put away for another year, it's time to wake up and get going on all those projects we can do in the warmth of the sun. Of course, the Board members didn't sleep at all this winter. So many projects, so little time. This is my first letter to you as your new President. I want to thank you all for your support and encouragement. I'll try my best to do a good job. Everyone seems to be so positive and excited about all the projects that are in the works. I know we will have a great turnout at our May quarterly meeting. We have a lot to talk about, the most important thing being our possible ownership of 1620 Pleasant, the moving of the houses, and the second phase of the Designated Neighborhood program. I can't stress enough how important it is that you attend so that we can get your input on those things that will impact our neighborhood. We have had a lot of new families move in the past few months and this will be a wonderful time to meet and welcome them. During the potluck, you will have a chance to look at old photos of Sherman Hill (boy have we come a long way!), listen to some great music, and enjoy the friendship. See you there! Randa LeJeune

Vent Pipes Recalled
Carbon Monoxide poisoning

T ime to have your heating systems inspected. Virtually the entire furnace and boiler industry together with the manufacturers of high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes announced a vent pipe recall program. The program's purpose is to replace, free of charge, an estimated 250,000 HTPV pipe systems attached to gas or propane furnaces or boilers in consumers' homes. The HTPV pipes could crack or separate at the joints and leak carbon monoxide (CO).

CO is a colorless, odorless gas produced by burning any fuel. The initial symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to the flu, and include headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness. Exposure to high levels of CO can cause death.

Annually, you should have a professional inspection of chimneys, flues and vents for leakage and blockage by creosote and debris. Leakage through cracks or holes could cause black stains on the outside of the chimney or flue. These stains can mean that pollutants are leaking into the house. It is recommended that every home should have at least one CO alarm that meets the requirements of the most recent Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 2034 standard or International Approval Services 6-96 standard.

You can check the vent pipes attached to their natural gas or propane furnaces or boilers to determine if they are part of this recall. They can be identified as follows: the vent pipes are plastic; the vent pipes are colored gray or black; and the vent pipes have the names "Plexvent®," "Plexvent®II" or "Ultravent®" stamped on the vent pipe or printed on stickers placed on pieces used to connect the vent pipes together. You should also check the location of these vent pipes. For furnaces, only HTPV systems that have vent pipes that go through the sidewalls of structures (horizontal systems) are subject to this program. For boilers, all HTPV systems are subject to this program. Other plastic vent pipes, such as white PVC or CPVC, are not involved in this program.

After checking the vent pipes, you can call the recall hotline toll-free at (800) 758-3688 Monday through Friday from 6 am to 7 pm CST or Saturday from 8 am to 4:30 pm CST (closed Sunday), to verify if your appliance venting systems are subject to this program. Eligible systems will receive new, professionally installed venting systems free of charge. Additionally, folks who already have replaced their HTPV pipe systems may be eligible for reimbursement for some or all of the replacement costs.

The Great Perennial Divide  May 19, 9 am - 1 pm

This spring, help renew and beautify Des Moines' schools and city streets by donating plants to community groups who plan, plant and maintain community vegetable and ornamental gardens. Please donate healthy, non-diseased plants. Label your plant and identify its sun requirements, height, and color. Plastic pots and labels are available at the Botanical Center one week prior to the event. No donation is too small! Bring donations to the Botanical Center or the Windsor Heights or Urbandale Hyvee Stores.
Volunteer your time. at collection sites, help sort and label donated plants, work with community gardeners in selection of appropriate plants, or make edible goodies for our volunteers. If you own a truck, van, or station wagon, help transport plants from drop off sites to the Botanical Center the day of the event. Contact Teva Dawson at (515) 323-8907 for further questions.

Absentee Landlords

You can get information about renter's rights by reviewing a copy of Iowa's Landlord-Tenant Act or by consulting the Iowa Code directly - look in your public library or on-line at http://www2.legis.state.ia.us/IACODE/2001.

The Iowa Code requires among other things that the landlord shall comply with the requirements of applicable building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety and make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition. If the landlord deliberately or negligently fails to provide essential services, you may give written notice of the problem then get reasonable amounts of these essential services elsewhere and deduct the actual and reasonable cost from the rent.

A landlord may not retaliate by increasing rent or decreasing services or by threatening to bring an action for possession after you file a complaint with the landlord or a governmental agency. If the landlord retaliates within one year of a good faith complaint, you may recover actual damages and reasonable attorney's fees.

You have several options for landlord-tenant disputes:

1. Make sure you've notified your landlord in writing and have the notice either notarized or certified delivery through post office.
2. Contact counselors at Home, Inc. at 1111 9th St., 243-1277. The non-profit organization is funded by the United Way and provides free assistance to anyone with a housing question or issue.
3. Contact Des Moines' Building Safety Division at 283-4200 or Des Moines' Neighborhood Health and Zoning at 283-4250.
4. Contact the Sherman Hill Association in writing, citing general complaints and be prepared to speak to the SHA Board. If SHA becomes involved, renters identities will be kept confidential.

Landlord Tenant Law Summary
When rent is due: Iowa Code Ann. § 562A.9(3)
Notice required to terminate or change month-to-month tenancy: Iowa Code Ann. § 562A.34; 30 days
Notice to increase rent: Iowa Code Ann. § 562A.13(5), .34(2)
Notice to quit for non-payment: Iowa Code Ann. § 562A.27; 3 days
Unconditional Quit Terminations: Iowa Code Ann. § 562A.27A; § 562A.27A; 3 days Creating a clear and present danger to the health or safty of the landlord, tenants or neighbors within 1,000 feet of the property boundries.
Time to move out before landlord can file eviction: 3 days
Termination for lease violation: Iowa Code Ann. § 562A.27; 7 days
Notice to enter: Iowa Code Ann. §§ 562A.19, .28, .29; 24 hours
Law prohibiting retaliation: Iowa Code Ann. §§ 562A.36 & 562A.36; One year
Statute on Withholding: Iowa Code Ann. § 562A. § 562A.24
Statute on Repair and Deduct: Iowa Code Ann. § 562A. § 562A.238
Average time to complete eviction: 45 days
Security Deposit Law: Iowa Code Ann. § 562AA 2
Maximum Security Deposit: 2 Months rent
Time allowed to return Security Deposit: 30 days

Feeling Wet Behind The Ears?

H ere's what you should know about flooding and water damage. If you lose power during storms - never use a gas oven, range, barbecue, hibachi or portable propane heater to heat your home. These units give off deadly carbon monoxide, responsible for several deaths during previous storms this year. Listen to your radio and television for news from public health departments to find out if your water is contaminated. If water is contaminated, bottled water is the best choice, plan for one gallon per person per day.

IF YOUR HOME IS FLOODED

Be sure utilities are off. Don't turn them on until notified. Avoid weakened structures, particularly floors, walls and rooftops to avoid structural damage. Do not pump basement out until flood water recedes.

Flood waters may carry silt, raw sewage, oil or chemical waste. Wear waterproof boots and gloves. . Wash your hands frequently with soap and disinfected water to prevent spread of disease. Open all doors and windows. Use fans is possible to air out the building.

Firstly, clean walls, hard surfaced floors and household surfaces with soap and water. Make sure dirt and mud are gone. Then, wipe everything down with solution of one cup household bleach to disinfect. Wash all clothes and linens in hot water. Throw out all food that came in contact with water.

   Ten Tips for heirlooms and other valuables

1. If the object is still wet, rinse with clear, clean water or a fine hose spray. Clean off dry silt and debris from your belongings with soft brushes or dab with damp cloths without grinding debris into objects.
2. Air dry objects indoors if possible. Sunlight and heat may dry certain materials too quickly, causing splits, warpage, and buckling.
3. The best way to inhibit growth of mold and mildew is to reduce humidity. Increase air flow with fans, open windows, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers.
4. Remove heavy deposits of mold growth from walls, baseboards, floors, and other household surfaces with commercially available disinfectants. Avoid the use of disinfectants on historic wallpapers.
5. If objects are broken or begin to fall apart, place all broken pieces, bits of veneer, and detached parts in clearly labeled open containers. Do not attempt to repair objects until completely dry or, in the case of important materials, until you have consulted with a professional conservator.
6. Documents, books, photographs and works of art on paper may be extremely fragile when wet; use caution when handling. Free the edges of prints and paper objects in mats and frames, if possible. These should be allowed to air dry. Rinse mud off wet photographs with clear water, but do not touch surfaces. Sodden books and papers should also be air dried, or may be kept in a refrigerator or freezer until they can be treated by a professional conservator.
7. Textiles, leather, and other "organic" materials will also be severely affected by exposure to water and should be allowed to air dry.
8. Remove wet paintings from the frame but not from the stretcher. Air dry, face up, away from direct sunlight.
9. Furniture finishes and painting surfaces may develop a white haze or bloom from contact with water and humidity. These problems do not require immediate attention. Consult a professional conservator for treatment.
10. Rinse metal objects exposed to flood waters, mud, or silt with clear water and dry immediately with a clean, soft cloth. Allow heavy mud deposits on large metal objects, such as sculpture, to dry. Caked mud can be removed later. Consult a professional conservator for further treatment.

FEMA strongly recommends that professional conservators be consulted as to the appropriate method of treatment for historic objects. Professional conservators may be contacted through the FREE Conservation Services Referral System of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, 1717 K Street, NW, Ste. 301, Washington, DC 20006; (202) 452-9545; fax: (202) 452-9328. Based on a complete description of the artifact, a computer-generated list of conservators will be compiled and grouped geographically, by specialization, and by type of service provided.





ACTS OF GOD AND NEIGHBOR

When water causes property damage -- flooded basements, collapsing retaining walls or soggy gardens, for example -- feuds between neighbors often result. But the legal issues can be as muddy as the mess in your backyard.

The law does not hold landowners responsible natural events in which they had no part. But damage is often caused by a combination of factors, divine and mortal. The "common enemy" rule. In the past, many courts treated excessive rainwater as a common enemy, damaging property at random. In theory, you are expected to take measures to protect your own property from water coursing across the land. Even if a neighbor on higher ground diverted water to prevent flooding and deposited it on you, you are expected to protect yourself from the extra water. The "reasonableness" rule. Today, in almost all other places, when one neighbor alters the land and damage occurs to another, the neighbor is liable for the damage if the alteration was unreasonable. But what to one neighbor appears perfectly reasonable may not seem so at all to another, for example, gutters and downspouts that send rainwater onto a neighbor's property are unreasonable alterations to natural flow.

HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE

Your homeowner's insurance normally pays for water damage coming into your home from an outside source - e.g. your neighbor's broken water pipe; your company may pay for your damage and then go after whoever caused it for repayment. When the damage comes from outside rising water, even if your neighbor's action caused the problem, you may need flood insurance. Flood insurance usually covers damage cause by water that has been on the ground at some point before damaging your home (e.g. river overflows, heavy rains because the soil can't absorb the water fast enough, or flash flood that causes a mud slide oozing into your home). Flood damage to your home can be insured only with a flood insurance policy, no other insurance will cover flood damage. Flood insurance is available through your insurance agent or the Federal Emergency Management Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at (202) 646-4515.

SCAMS

If you go to an outside source to help with water damage cleanup, be careful of scams. Some common rip-offs are from people who offer to "sanitize" your home, air system duct work and pest control. One scam surfaced in September 1999 where FEMA impersonators slithered into a shelter telling senior citizens they needed a credit card number to process water damage claims. No matter what anyone says, FEMA does not need your personal financial banking numbers, credit card numbers to process your claims. No matter what work you need done, the same rules apply:

• Make sure the contractor is licensed and insured.
• Get a signed, written agreement that includes specifics such as price and exactly what work will be done.
• Get references and check them.
• Never pay for the job up front.

Another kind of rip-off, price gouging, targets people who need water, ice, gas and even hotel rooms. Though difficult to prove, the state will investigate every complaint. This article was excerpted from http://www.fema.gov and http://www.nolo.com real estate center

Neighborhood Real Estate Sales

Sales information collected from the Polk County Assessor's Office. For more information, consult the assessor's website at www.co.polk.ia.us.

Why People Live in Victorian Houses

by Irwin Horowitz in March 1964
for "The American Home" magazine, Vol. LXVII No. 2
published by The Curtis Publishing Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

W hen good Queen Victoria first sat down on the throne of England, little did she know what a vast polyglot of architectural styles would some day be lumped into the one category bearing her name. From 1837 until her death in 1901, there was scarcely an architectural style that hadn't been copied, adapted, and embellished - all in the name of Victoria.

As so often happens at the end of an era, Victorian architecture fell into disfavor. Who in their right mind would want to live in an architectural folly? A "wedding cake" house, for example. Or a Greek temple, an Italian villa, a Gothic Charles Addams nightmare? Evidently, there were precious few - until America's large postwar families as wells as historians and architectural buffs began to find in their appraisals of the Victorian period much to praise. In recent years, as more and more children have come our way, these rambling, many-chambered Victorain houses have once more come into their own. The house that only yesterday was regarded as a horror is today a priceless treasure. There are many prolific fathers who now look down on the upturned faces of their children seated at a long table in a gigantic dining room. The occupants of bassinets, cribs, nurseries, and playrooms have crowded the ghosts and bats out of attics, cupolas, parlors, and "reception rooms." The owners of ornamental Victorian homes claim their pride is justified. They say their dwellings are admired conversation pieces. The have proved, they believe, the soundness of their judgement in buying them. Carl Carmer, the well-known author ... is the owner of an Octagon house... Says Mr. Carmer: "Octagon houses were meant to be functional and I have found that they are. Our home is a series of alternating rooms. Some are long and rectangular, some are pie-shaped. The pie-shaped ones have been put to excellent use as pantries, dressing rooms, bathrooms, and storage areas."

Other owners feel they have gotten more for their money in big old Victorian houses. Although they find them expensive to heat and maintain, this is more than compensated by the space they have gained - space that would be prohibitively costly if duplicated today. Still other owners like living in a "fun" house. It isn't every family that can live in a picturesque doll house ... or one dripping with gingerbread or with a Romanesque tower all its own. A lot can be said for mammoth porches, secret doors and passageways, third-floor balconies, laundry chutes, sky-high ceilings, and sunny bay windows.

Perhaps the most important of all reasons is the kinship which many families feel for the past. They, just as their great grandparents did, see a certain beauty in the turn of a Gothic arch or the delicacy of a jigsaw scrollwork. They realize that America has always been a melting pot and a melting pot of architecture as well. Today many families are buying Victorian houses and furnishing them tastefully in Victorian as well as other decorating styles. As our own architectural period takes on an identity, people turn away from the consdescension with which the Victorian period was once regarded and give it the respect it has long deserved.

  Noisy neighbors  

Y es our community prohibits excessive and unreasonable noise. Here is an excerpt of Des Moines' municipal code on noise pollution describing the maximum permissible sound levels at or within real property boundaries. This doesn't apply to emergency signaling devices, construction, motorized vehicles, or use of domestic power tools between 7:00 am to 10:00 pm which are subject to their own decibal levels and permits in other sections of the City's ordinances.

The noise ordinance is administered and enforced by the police department. The police department can establish the noise complaint is valid through research and measurement of noise levels. The ordinance includes more information on continuous sound levels which pose an immediate threat to health and welfare - get more information from your library or office of the city attorney, mayor or city manager, or at http://www.municode.com. A little common sense, if a noise problem exists, keep the lines of communication open with your neighbor. Learn the law and try to work out an agreement. Remember that relationships with our neighbors matter a great deal.

  Another Green World  

A gain Spring! Long deep white cold gives way. Time to enjoy the rich soil our neighborhood sits upon. Cultivating and tending our lawns, gardens, and public spaces yields pleasure and beauty, a gift to everyone. May 18-20 weekend, annuals will be distributed for the planting of public spaces. Possible only through the incredible generosity of the DSM Botanical Center and the fine direction of neighbor Teva Dawson in her role as Community Garden Coordinator of the Botanical Center. Each year our order has grown as has the number of neighbors participating. Orders are in and deadlines have passed for this year, but anyone interested in partipicating next Spring should give me their name and address.

Also, we've finally begun landscaping the slope behind 1902 Woodland. Jon White deserves full credit for conceiving the plan and getting me involved. We've both enjoyed some early mornings of raking and planting. Now the tending, watering, and finishing work. Transforming an eyesore into an inspiration with just a couple of pairs of dirty hands seems integral to this whole Sherman Hill experience. That and the glorious mess of eccentrics, bodhisattvas, sinners, and bon vivants!

Happy Spring..Dig in..Dig it..     Bret McFarlin

The Beacon of Life Residential Center for Woman

There's no place like this one
Thoughts from a Beacon resident..............

Depression overwhelmed me as I escaped from physical threats from family members. My daughter and her abusive boyfriend destroyed me emotionally. This combined with my own addictions created an unbearable situation that I was forced to elude. I could no longer carry the burden of saving my daughter, I needed to concentrate on my own recovery.

The Beacon of Life has been my light in the darkness as it has assisted me emotionally, spiritually, and financially. Upon my arrival, I suffered from mental illness and was faced with alcoholism. The support available to me at the Beacon allowed me to find the strong woman within me that had been lost for so long. There's no place like this one.

This safe, secure environment offers me a staff capable of formal and informal counseling. My self-esteem has flourished in these past months at the Beacon. I no longer feel alone and threatened and compassion comes from my fellow residents and the entire staff. The expectations and challenges the Beacon gives me helps me know that once I reestablished myself in society, I will have the skills to create a life I have dreamed of. My gratitude for all those involved in this organization runs deep. This journey at the Beacon has given me empowerment I hope to share with other women like me, and I hope that I will always sustain this nurturing spirit.     - Cheri C.

Please help the Beacon assist women like Cheri! Below is our current list of needs. If you would like to donate items, call Ruth Hardin, Executive Director of the Beacon, at 244-4713.

Cash donations are also needed. Please send them to:
Beacon of Life, 1717 Woodland Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50309



Thank you for your support.

Community Volunteer Sign Up Sheet

   We need volunteers to lend a hand. If you have a little time to give, please express yourself below. The neighborhood association will maintain your information for contact on an "as needed" basis.

   We do not sell your information or use it in any way for personal gain. We do not give volunteers the private information of others. Each organization/group, committee or sub-committee will be responsible for interviewing, selecting and supporting their own volunteers. Thank you for supporting the Sherman Hill Neighborhood. Here is hoping we can all make a difference together.

Please mail your result to the SHA office or bring it in person to the next Quarterly Meeting. This volunteer sign up sheet can also be filled out on-line at http://www.shermanhill.org/volunteers.html

Survey for Sherman Hill Association

Please mail your result to the SHA office or bring it in person to the next Quarterly Meeting. This survey can also be taken on-line at http://www.shermanhill.org/shasurvey.html

1. Of the projects listed below, which would you like to see the Sherman Hill Neighborhood Association work on?

1. Clean up the neighborhood
2. Paint/clean/fix up individual properties
3. Neighborhood get togethers
4. "Welcome to ..." signage for the community (e.g. Tours and Dinners)
5. Other (specify)

2. Of the projects you checked above, which would you personally volunteer time for?

1. Clean up the neighborhood
2. Paint/clean/fix up individual properties
3. Neighborhood get togethers
4. "Welcome to ..." signage for the community (e.g. Tours and Dinners)
5. Other (as specified above).

3. Which of the following statements best reflects your impression of the neighborhood?

1. Very happy. Lots of visible improvement.
2. Happy. Some improvement.
3. Neutral. I don't see any change.
4. Not happy. Some worsening.
5. Very unhappy. Lots of things are worse.

4. The Sherman Hill Neighborhood Association currently sponsors several programs. Please circle your choice:

5. This section is for any comments you might have about improving the community or anything else you'd like us to know:

SHERMAN HILL ASSOCIATION
756 16th St.
Des Moines, IA 50314