NWWNA Monthly meeting

Please attend the NWWNA monthly meeting  Monday, Aug. 18, 2014 at 7-8:30pm. at the Community Resource Center (CRC), 20 57 Tyler Rd.

Moving Forward with help from Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley

The New West Willow Neighborhood Association and Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley  are excited to announce that Habitat has received a grant for activities in West Willow this summers and fall! Activities will include community meetings and surveys to get input from all residents about what they love about West Willow and what they would like to see to make it an even better place to live; neighborhood clean-up and beautification; exterior home improvement projects for homeowners; construction of an outdoor pavilion at the community resource center; replacing/repairing the fence along the bike path and the renovation of the 1st Habitat home in West Willow. A kick-off meeting we be held August 26th, 6-7:30pm at the New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church on Tyler Rd. Everyone can come hear more details about the grant, the activities, and how you can get involved! Stay tuned for more information and look for invite in the mail.                                                   

UPDATES

SUMMER CAMP- We are starting the 3rd week of camp with over 60 kids registered! Lots of campers. In fact we have been working through a waiting list.  There is a great staff this year with employees of Washtenaw Cty. Parks and Recs, Mi.Work-Limited Work experience and volunteers from the neighborhood.
WEST WILLOW WOMEN IN ACTION- Meets tonight at 6pm at the CRC(2057 Tyler). This is for women and young ladies in West Willow, Sugarbrook, and Gault Village. A time to meet neighbors, fellowship, share ideas, work on projects and enjoy visiting speakers. Light refreshments. Lots of fun. Contact Linda at 483-8195 for more details or to be a visiting speaker.
BALLIN IN THE WILLOW- Every Tuesday at 5pm, West Willow park. sponsored by WCSO and NWWNA
 NWWNA MONTHLY MEETING- JULY 21ST at the CRC at 7-8:30pm.There will be information about employment help at the meeting.
HABITAT for HUMANITY- Continued work in West Willow. So far many have taken advantage of the Free Refrigerator Replacement program, Energy Efficiency and Furnace Safety program, Exterior improvements(14 houses worked on so far), home ownership (1 house purchased by H4H with renovations  planned to start in the fall). There goal is to renovate 5 homes for the next 3 yrs. If you want to own your home with a zero percent mortgage or interested in any other programs offered by Habitat contact Habitat's West Willow Coordinator Shataura Clayborne at 734-478-6331 or visit h4h.org.
PAINT YPSI- Have painted and improved landscaping at 3 homes on Onandago in the last 2yrs.for FREE. See if you qualify  by visiting www.paintypsilantiproject.com. They are in need of community and company volunteers, 4-8 shifts are available. Sign up on their web for the 2 upcoming work days. 
GREATER FAITH TRANSITIONS CENTER INC. Lots is happening in he old Kaiser School building which is now Greater Faith Transition Center Inc. Since Pastor Robert Ford and his congregation moved in they continue to do Food Distributions on the 1st and 4th. Tuesday of the month. You can pick up food from1-4pm. at 670 Onandaga. Contact the church for more details. Upcoming Events:   VBS July 28-Aug. 1st, 5-8pm, ages 3-18. 
                                   Annual picnic Aug.2, noon-6pm.

WEST WILLOW 2014 SUMMER CAMP

         June 23rd - August 15, 2014                      Monday - Friday                      11-4pm

  COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER (CRC)  2057 TYLER RD.

   EARLY REGISTRATION:   May 23rd  4-6pm
                                                    May 24th  9-11am.

Come on out for lots of fun this summer! This years lunches will be provided by Food Gathers. Some of our  partners and sponsors are Washtenaw Cty. Parks and Recs., Growing Hope, Fly Art, Ypsilanti Public Library/ Book Mobile and WCHO. There will be lots of arts and crafts, board and group games, visits to the park, special visits from Ms. Faye and her  "critters"! This year a resident of WW will be sharing his skills with model airplanes.  Each summer a trip to Rolling Hills and Independent Lake is packed with lots of fun. The youth will be gardening and learning about eating good healthy food from Growing Hope. Space is limited so don't wait. Registration will continue tell max is met. If you can help in any way please contact Linda Mealing at 734.483.8195. Please let us know if you have a special skill to share with the youth of West Willow.         

YPSI PRIDE DAY AND PRE-AWARENESS DAY

This Saturday, May 10th West Willow residents will have the opportunity to share in a YPSI PRIDE  PRE-AWARENESS DAY. It will take place 11-1pm at the CRC and thru out West Willow.  It is an opportunity to help promote YPSI PRIDE DAY which will be May 17th, 9am- noon.  You ask what's YPSI PRIDE DAY, it's People Restoring Image and Developing the Environment through a city-wide clean up. It's a day to roll up your sleeves and volunteer to better the appearance of your neighborhood. So come on West Willow residents let's pitch in and beautify our surroundings with clean streets (get that trash and  those leaves up), clean our entrance ways, park, walk & bike trail, prepare the grounds at the CRC for summer camp and plant some flowers! I'm proud of where I live!  I want others to be proud too and let's show why were proud. The more volunteers the more will be done. So please make time and come out May 17th. Gather your yard tools and meet at the CRC (2057 Tyler Rd.) at 9am  on the 17th and let's get started.  A free lunch will be provided by the sponsors. Pre-register for a free t-shirt. Contact Joann McCollum at 734.845.7365 for signing up and more details.
This Saturday, May 10th will also be a day to get info about all our new adventures and partnership with H4H, Paint Ypsi and info on this summer camp that will run June 23rd - Aug. 15th, 2014, Mon.-Fri., 11- 4pm.  Pre- registration will take place May 23rd, 4-6pm and May 24th, 9-11am at the CRC. After that you may sign up after camp begins. Camp site leader will be Linda Mealing. Contact her at 734.483.8195 for more details.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

APRIL
29th - Today U of M Student Presentation, 6pm Join us for final presentations of semester-long work from the Michigan Engaging Communities through the Classroom program (MECC). They will be sharing their ideas from the information that was collected from residents during their door surveys and the input forums held at the CRC. Come early for the Community Resource Fair at 5:30pm. Refreshments provided. Location: New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, 2345 Tyler Rd.

MAY
5th- West Willow Women In Action(WWWIA) 6:00 - 7:00pm at the CRC (2057 Tyler Rd.) All women and young ladies in the West Willow area are invited to a evening of fellow-shipping with your neighbors. Come on out for personal growth and sharing. You deserve a break! Topical guest speakers are welcomed. Contact Linda Mealing for more details at 734.483.8195

6th - Voting Day, 7:00am - 8:00pm Polls will be open all day to vote on the AAATA ( The RIDE) millage to expand transit service in the community. Make you voice heard. VOTE!

10th - Promoting Ypsi PRIDE in West Willow  Informational fair at the CRC. We are looking for West Willow churches and youth to decorate their bikes and compete for prices. Final details TBD. For more information and questions contact Joann McCollum at joannmccllm@aol.com or  734.845.7362

17th - Ypsilanti P.R.I.D.E., 9:00am - 2:00pm Sign up now! We need participation from all to help beautify the West Willow community. Gather you yard tools and meet at the CRC at 9:00am. Gloves, bags and free lunch will be provided by the sponsors of this city wide event. Contact Joann.

19th - NWWNA Monthly Meeting - 7:00 - 8:00pm at the CRC  The neighbor's association regular monthly meeting

23rd - West Willow Free Summer Camp Early Sign Up, 4:00 -6:00pm  Sign kids up for our annual summer program at the CRC.

24th - West Willow Free Summer Camp Early Sign Up, 9:00-11:00am  Sign up kids at the CRC

31st - Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Orientation, 9:00am  Come learn about Habitat's work in West Willow, owning a home in the neighborhood and how to apply; free refrigerator program;critical repair and weatherization; and energy efficiency and furnace safety. Location: Greater Faith Traditional, Inc., (former Kaiser School) 670 Onandaga St.

JUNE 
23rd West Willow Summer Camp begins  and runs tell August 15th. Monday -Friday, 11:00am -4:00pm   Volunteers and parent participation are needed. Total camper's count will depend on staff size. Coordinator and Contact person: Linda Mealing 734.483.8195

** Food distribution takes place the 1st and 4th Tuesday of each month  at the Greater Faith Transitional Inc. ( former Kaiser School) 670 Onandaga St.

Sharing Thoughts and Concerns

The residents of West Willow may  share their thoughts and concerns about Transportation  on Monday, April 7th at  the CRC located at 2057 Tyler Rd. The event will be part of the West Willow Women in Action  meeting that will run 6-7pm. The U of M students will be there from 6-6:30pm. Please come out and share in the focus group and make transportation better for our residents. How are you getting around from place to place? What could make it better?

PLANNING FOR A BETTER FUTURE

 A special thanks to those residents, community leaders and supporters who filled the CRC on March17th. There was great input from many concerned residents who want our neighborhood to look better, be better and have a lowering crime rate month after month. Some concerns about the appearance of McCartney/Wiard Rd. fencing and the bike/walk path where addressed with the help of Brenda Stumbo and the Road Commissioner Office who was out and in the area the next day! Possible plans for improvement are definitely being addressed. As reports where read at the meeting one could hear there is a lot going on. The NWWNA board is volunteering a lot of time to meet new goals, address residents concerns and to get more residents involved. They  need  all residents and landlords to become an active member in NWWNA. We encourage you all to step up and help with the many projects that are in progress right now. U of M students and Professor Eric Dueweke are busy working on plans that will give us a big view of how and what we can do to  improve life in West Willow. They met with some residents Saturday, March 29th  to get input about what visibly could be changed. They need your input, so please say YES when you get a call to participant in one of their forums this month being held at the CRC. You may have gotten the flyer they passed out  Sunday asking for residents to meet Saturday, April 5th at 1pm at the CRC to share ideas about  transportation issues. There will be a final report presentation on April 29th from 6-8pm  at New Covenant Baptist Church located at 2345 Tyler Rd. for the residents, supporters and twp. and cty. elected officials. So your input is needed now as they prepare for the 29th.! Please  attend the forum/discussion group on Saturday at 1pm, CRC or to the NWWNA board  asap. Let's not let this opportunity slip by. We need you to step up and show up.
The 1st group of  U of M students who where a part of  Michigan Engaging Community through the Classroom (MECC) gave great ideas about our area and about future usage of the old plant property now owned by Racer. Racer Trust was very open to their ideas in 2013 and they continue to keep us informed on what's happening on the property. It would be great to see new  jobs available to West Willow residents.
 We do have opinions and  voices so let's make them known. SPEAK UP and EXPECT changes! We need you to help make change. We need our  twp. and cty.  officials support as we move forward to make West Willow a great place to live.

See list of other "HAPPENINGS" in West Willow:
TELLING IT (an after school program) for 7-9th graders at the CRC starts Thursday, April 3rd at 3:45-5:45pm. and will be every Thursday tell May29th. Contact person  Deb Gordon-Gurfinkel at dmgordon@umich.edu.
WWWIA(west willow women in action)- meet ever 1st Monday of the month at the CRC, 6-7pm. Guest speakers welcomed. Contact Linda at 734.483.8195  Active project now is planning for YPSI PRIDE DAY- May 17th., 9-noon. Meet at the CRC. Sign up now. We need everybody to show up and help beautify our West Willow community. Contact person Joann McCollum - 734.845.7362.
HABITAT- Partnering to buy and rehab homes. Introducing programs to help residents. Weatherization, Veterans, house repairs- in and out,free refrigerators. Contact Shataura Clayborne, 734. 478.6331  
WEST WILLOW SUMMER CAMP- needs your help and financial support. Plans in progess. Contact person Linda, 734.483.8195 and Deb. 734.487.5282.

Linda Mealing
VP NWWNA

Racer Trust Update

RACER has been working with contractors The Environmental Quality Co. (EQ) and Job Site Services (JSS) and consultant Conestoga Rovers and Associates, Inc.. (CRA) to implement two Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) approved remediation activities at the CVO Site (2901 Tyler Road, Ypsilanti, MI).  The large excavation initiated last fall has been completed. The impacted soils were removed from the site and the excavation has been substantially backfilled. This work was completed in mid January 2014.  Work remaining to be completed this spring includes restoration of the grass and asphalt in the excavation area.  A second excavation was initiated in December near the building on site.  This excavation has also been completed and backfilled.   Follow up activities to be completed this spring include segregation of excavated material and disposal.

Please direct all questions and concerns to RACER Trust toll free at 1-855-722-3741.

NWWNA Meets Monday, March 17, 2014

Please come out to the monthly meeting of the NEW WEST WILLOW NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION (NWWNA). We meet the 3rd. Monday of every month. The meeting starts at 7pm at the Community Resource Center (CRC- 2057 Tyler Rd., right behind the covered bus stop). There will be representatives from the Township Board to give  updates, the fire dept.,and a  police with updated report on activities. Some topics to be discussed are: AAATA and upcoming millage/bond, the new project between Habitat and West Willow  and how to get involved in YPSI PRIDE.  You ask WHAT'S THAT?

COME OUT AND BRING A NEIGHBOR

BE AN INFORMED RESIDENT OF WEST WILLOW

LET'S BUILD A SAFE COMMUNITY FOR EVERYONE

See you Monday (17th) at 7pm at the CRC.

West Willow Women in Action (WWWIA)

Please come out and join other women of West Willow, Gault Village and Sugarbrook on March 3rd.,at 6-7:15pm at the CRC( 2057 Tyler Rd.). This group is know as WWWIA and we meet the 1st Monday of each month for fellowship, support, for planning of ways to support the NWWNA and connect with surrounding neighborhoods. There will be light refreshments at all meetings and guest speakers are welcomed. Contact Linda Mealing at 734.483.8195 to schedule.

RACER TRUST UPDATE

RACER, along with their contractor The Environmental Quality Co. (EQ) and consultant Conestoga Rovers and Associates, Inc.. (CRA) are continuing to implement the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) approved remediation activities at the CVO Site (2901 Tyler Road, Ypsilanti, MI).  The work over the past two weeks has included excavation, conditioning and offsite disposal of impacted soils.  The conditioning of impacted soils involves mixing chemicals into the soil to breakdown the target compounds (volatile organic compounds (VOCs)) to more innocuous compounds.  Off-Site disposal of conditioned soils continued  over the last two weeks.  251 truckloads of soil have been removed from the site, totaling an estimated 12,100 tons.  Perimeter air monitoring levels have been significantly below actions levels established in the MDEQ and EPA approved work plan.   Please direct all questions and concerns to RACER Trust toll free at 1-855-722-3741.

RACER, along with their contractor The Environmental Quality Co. (EQ) and consultant Conestoga Rovers and Associates, Inc.. (CRA) are continuing to implement the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) approved remediation activities at the CVO Site (2901 Tyler Road, Ypsilanti, MI).  The work since the last update (submitted on December 9, 2013 by Beth Landale) has continued to include excavation, conditioning and offsite disposal of impacted soils.  Limited activities were completed between December 24, 2013 through January 7, 2014. 

The excavation of material is complete.  Backfilling and final restoration activities are expected to be completed over the next two weeks.   Perimeter air monitoring levels have been significantly below actions levels established in the MDEQ and EPA approved work plan.  Please direct all questions and concerns to RACER Trust toll free at 1-855-722-3741.

TELLING IT PROGRAM

The Telling It Program will be starting late this semester.  It will begin on Thursday March 20, 2014.  This is due to a Telling It pilot program being run at Ypsilanti Community Middle School beginning January 30th.  Hope to see everyone in March. The time will be 3:45-5:45pm at the Community Resource Center (CRC), 2057 Tyler Rd., Ypsilanti. Contact person Linda Mealing - 734.483.8195

WEST WILLOW WOMEN IN ACTION (WWWIA)

The group will not meet this month. But please come out on Feb. 3rd. to the CRC (2057 Tyler) at 6-7pm and join us. Let's start making plans for the new year and how we can impact our community. For more information about this group please contact an officer of the NWWNA. Refer to the contact page. Thanks.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!

SCHOOL BREAK FUN

SCHOOL BREAK FUN!!!! The CRC (2057 Tyler Rd) will be open Mondays and Fridays while school is out for crafts, board games, pc time, and movies. The dates are Dec.23, 27 and 30,and Jan.3rd. The time for each day is 1-3pm. For information contact Linda at 734-483-8195.

CRC ACTIVITIES UPDATE

TELLING IT-  Ended on Dec. 5th.  Look for a beginning date in January.  Thanks to  Professor Deborah and the students of U of M!!! A special thanks to the Tucker family of West Willow who provides Christmas  gifts for all. They wanted to share their blessings.

FLYART-  Ends on Dec.20th.  If you haven't made it out on Fridays at 4:30pm yet, please come out this week. Kids will be working on special items for MEALS ON WHEELS participates in our area. These items along with articles prepared by WWWIA will be a part of  the holiday meal for our special seniors who receive meals from MOW.

* A reminder: THERE IS NO DEC. NWWNA MEETING. SEE YOU ALL on JAN. 20, 2014.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS

WEST WILLOW WOMEN IN ACTION (WWWIA)

WWWIA will meet Monday, Dec.2nd at the CRC. The meeting will be 6-7pm. It is a great place to fellowship and meet your neighbors.  All women in the West Willow area are welcomed. Refreshments are served at each monthly meeting. This month we ask that you please bring a Holiday or favorite dessert dish, along with the recipe to share.  Each lady will go home with a plate of delicious goodies to share with their family and Holiday guest. For information contact Linda at 483-8195.

EVENTS AT THE CRC

There will be no activities at the CRC this week. TELLING IT AND FLYART will resume there regular schedule next week.  HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

FLYART AT THE CRC, NEW TIME

Our after school arts and crafts held at the CRC has new time. FlyArt will begin at 4:30 pm instead of 4pm. This will allow more youth to get home from school and arrive on time. The session will end at 5:30pm. Please note earlier notices for more details about the session or contact Linda at 734.484.8195 if you have questions.

NWWNA ANNUAL POTLUCK MEETING Nov. 18th

 Dear West Willow Residents and Supporter, please join us at our ANNUAL  POTLUCK being held Nov. 18th. at 7pm. It will take place at New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church located at 2345 Tyler Rd.  This a great opportunity to connect with residents and catch up on what's been going on. So make that special dish , come out and enjoy an evening with your neighbors, friends and supporters. For more information or questions contact Linda at 734.483.8195.