herman Hill
Association
NEWSLETTER January 1998
herman Hill
Association
NEWSLETTER January 1998
What's Inside
Upgrade of Sherman Hill Association Office Computer
Historic Street Lighting Grant Awarded
Workshop with the Color Doctor
Recipe for Lemon Thyme Tea Bread
As I sit down to write this column; it's a natural tendency to reflect on my time on the Sherman Hill Association Board of Directors. I have to say that overall it has been a very rewarding experience. I also have to say that I now hold far more respect for the amount of time and commitment the office of the president requires. I am happy with the accomplishments the Association had during my tenure as President; yet, I am disappointed that we couldn't bring more projects to closure....the wheels of bureaucracy turn soooo slowly. Oh well...I believe I was able to live up to my personal code of leaving things better than I found them.
I congratulate our new Board Members, Emily Donovan, Bill Dodds, Sonja Roberts, and York Taenzer. I wish you all the best experience possible. There are many exciting things coming for Sherman Hill - have fun and do good work. I encourage all of the Sherman Hill Neighbors to participate in activities and volunteer to your capacity - that's the most important part of making it all work.
Upgrade of Sherman Hill Association Office Computer
Hoorah! Hoorah! The arrival of 1998 brings with it some very good news indeed! The Sherman Hill Association Office Computer has been upgraded with a rebuilt PC that has plenty of memory, all for less that $200 thanks to the able and earnest efforts of York Taenzer, one of the newly-elected Board members.
The upgraded computer will be able to track Association expenses, the receipt of income, the payment of various invoices and other payables, as well as maintain an up-to-date membership roster and address database. AND - the news gets even better - by end of February 1998. Sherman Hill Association, through the generosity of former Board member Brenda Kerr, will have a Web Site for online information concerning Association activities and meetings, reprints of copies of articles about Sherman Hill and space to advertise, for a small fee, apartments available for rent and houses available for sale. Anyone interested in further information regarding the computer's capabilities should contact York Taenzer at 288-8984. For further details regarding advertisements for rental and sale of properties please contact Mary Schrunk at the Sherman Hill Office (284-5717).
Sherman Hill Association Receives $300,000 in Grant Funds from Polk County.
Santa Claus arrived early and with a resplendent generosity that will long be remembered in our neighborhood. Thanks to the joint efforts of our neighbors - with special accolades to Jack Porter and to Randa LeJeune - and Polk County Board Supervisor Tom Baker, the Association received on December 16, 1997 the County's warrants for $300,000.00 for the HISTORIC STREET LIGHTING PROJECT (Phase II). As soon as the weather permits, the contractor will be commencing construction of the second phase of the street lighting project. The Association bears the responsibility of overseeing the construction work of the second phase. Your Board Members are actively seeking to work with the contractor to determine the impact of the project upon each abutting property. And to develop an early alert system which will afford each affected property owner with as much advance warning and specific information of the activities involved in construction as is possible to anticipate. For instance, we know already that there will be temporary lack of driveway and parking access, as the electrical cables are laid underground. We pledge as much advance notice as possible of these inconveniences. If you have any questions, please call the Sherman Hill Association Office at 284-5717. Likewise, if any matter comes up that you consider should be brought to the attention of the Board, please do not hesitate to call.
Second Monday in February.
February 9, 1998 at Hoyt Sherman Place
Potluck is at 6:30 p.m. The meeting starts at 7:00 p.m.
Join us for good food and friendship.
1998 MEMBERS OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jo Campney 744 18th Street 243-2168 Bill Dodds 650 17th Street #1 280-9141 Emily Donovan 905 18th Street 282-8751 Bret McFarlin 853 18th Street 280-6320 Bob Mickle 1701 Woodland Ave. 282-0396 Pamela Summers 666 19th Street 288-4958 Sonja Roberts 1623 Woodland Ave. 243-2033 York Taenzer 920 18th Street 288-8984 Wilbur Wilcox 911 18th Street 280-3961
1997 Outdoor Christmas Lighting Contest Results
The results of the 1997 Outdoor Christmas Lighting competition are in. And, Alas! Alas! No one was the winner. Truth is the contest never quite lit up; Santa and his helpers stubbed their toes and fell flat on this one.
Let's all redouble our efforts to outfit our neighborhood in the 1998 holiday season in a manner befitting our heritage and vintage. Each year we receive several inquiries on behalf of tour groups concerning any special lighting displays in our neighborhood for the holiday season. If we start the planning now, we can have the whole hill all aglow with holiday lights and festivities for our own enjoyment and that of our neighbors, far and wide.
Workshop With The Color Doctor
John Crosby Freeman, the popular "Color Doctor" of SOUTHERN HERITAGE PAINT sold in conjunction with Lowe's Home Centers, has graciously agreed to conduct a workshop for our neighborhood on Saturday, January 24, 1998 at 7:00 p.m. at the Sherman Hill Office at the Wallace House (upstairs at 756 16th Street). Mr. Freeman is one of the nation's top authorities on architectural history and color and such, is a consultant to many preservation and restoration groups around the country. He is the backbone of Lowe's three-year-old Color Design Service sponsored by the retailer's paint supplier, Valspar Corporation. Mr. Freeman is donating his time and expertise in furtherance of our neighborhood's historic revitalization. In addition, he will be available for individual personal consultation for a fee of $75 (per 50-minute period) which will be donated to the Association. He also will make available on behalf of Valspar 10 gallons of SOUTHERN HERITAGE exterior/interior paint for a silent auction with the proceeds donated to the Association. Watch your February newsletter for further details on the time and place of the auction. Note: Mr. Freeman has provided a file of feature stories of his many and varied endeavors and accomplishments, which are available for, review by our members. Please stop by the Sherman Hill Office and take a look; it's chock full of details of his "house calls".
Time to come out of the winter doldrums! Join your old friends and welcome new families to the neighborhood with your favorite hearty chicken noodle soup, chili (Texas-style or otherwise) or any other special winter soup of your concoction. If you have a new neighbor, or know of a new resident to our neighborhood, please invite them to come with you. Our first 1998 SOUPER SUNDAY will be at the home of Ton Stam and David Clem at 743 17th Street on January 25th at 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. It's a POTLUCK so cook up a steaming pot of your favorite winter soup and come share its delectable warmth. Note: Additional Souper Sunday dates to be announced at the February Quarterly Meeting and in your February newsletter.
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A favorite recipe to enjoy with a steamy cup of your favorite brew of tea or coffee from Mary Schrunk of the Sherman Hill Office staff: Lemon Thyme Tea Bread 3 oz. pkg. Cream cheese 2 tbs. butter or margarine, softened 2/3 c. sugar 1 egg 1 c. plus 2 tbs. all-purpose flour 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. salt 1/2 c. milk 1 tbs. snipped fresh lemon thyme 1 tsp. finely shredded lemon peel
Grease and lightly four loaf pan. In mixing bowl beat cream cheese and butter with electric mixer. Beat on high until light and fluffy. With mixer on medium-low speed, gradually add sugar, beating well. Add egg and beat until combined. In small mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients, beating well after each addition. Stir in lemon thyme and lemon peel. Spread batter into pan. Bake in 350-degree oven 45-50 minutes. Cool on wire rack in pan 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Drizzle glaze over warm loaf. Glaze: Stir together 1/2 c. powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp. Lemon zest, and lemon juice until drizzling consistency. - Kris Carries Reprinted with permission from the Dubuque Arboretum Botanical Gardens "Ground Cover" Newsletter (September, 1997) |
The Valentines Progressive Dinners
will be held on Friday, February 6th and Saturday, February 7th starting at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person and includes various courses of the meal in three different vintage homes in the neighborhood. Love is one thing we all should make time for. Don't delay, make your reservations today by calling 284-5717.
Time To Renew Your SHA Membership
The bells that rang in the New Year also pealed out a gentle reminder that it is time for renewal of Sherman Hill Association Memberships. Please plan to renew at the beginning of the February Quarterly Meeting. Membership fees are a significant portion of our budget! If you have any questions regarding the status of your membership, please call the Sherman Hill Association Office at 284-5717 for information. Regular office hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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SHERMAN HILL NEWS is a publication of the Sherman Hill Association, Inc. a non-profit corporation with officers at 756 16th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50314. The Association is dedicated to the restoration of the Sherman Hill Historic District, enhancement of the districts social environment and commitment to the district. The NEWS is published six times each year in January, February, April, June, August, and October. Views expressed are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Association. |