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Devonshire Crier

Issue 34 Devonshire III & VI Civic Association February 2010

Board of Directors and CommitteesPresident: John Haines, 257-0406 Vice President: Rick Thedwall, 254-1504

pianodj@comcast.net rthedwall@att.net

Secretary: Sheryl Holko, 255-2257 Treasurer: Todd Roberson, 870-3354 sherylholko@yahoo.com wtrobers@iupui.edu

Improvements: Interim: Lee Smith, 255-2421 Block Captain: Chery Snyder, 257-2011and John Haines, 257-0406 cherybob@comcast.net

Social: Sheryl Holko 255-2257 Crime Watch: Denny Dinn, 254-0692 Co-Chair (Social) Susan Nemeth 255-2257 dennydinn@aol.com

Sherylholko@yahoo.com

Membership: Laura King, 726-0434 Newsletter: Connie Dinnsen, 255-3536 kingmx529@sbcglobal.net dinnsenc@yahoo.com

BRAG Reps: Mary and Jim Brekenridge, 253-3050 maryandjimbreckenridge@comcast.net

New Website: Devonshireiiiandvi.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

New Subway.…………………………….1Pres. Report/Town Hall Meeting…......2BRAG……………………………………..4Holiday Party Recap/For Sale…....…..6Monthly Meeting Minutes……………..8Block Captains Honored……………...9New Neighbor Information…………..10Crime Watch……..……….……………11Improvements……………………..…..13Treasurer’s Report……………………14BRAG Listens to Educators………...15Just Around Corner/Found/Free…...17Neighborhood Notes…………….…...18

Devonshire III & VI Neighbors Did you know Subway is in our neighborhood now (strip mall next to Kroger's) and they are having a Grand Opening Thursday, February 4th? The owner wants to support our neighborhood and will be advertising in our Crier for the next year. Stop by the store on February 4 and enter their sweepstakes for a chance to win prizes including a Flat Screen TV (drawing at 5:30pm). They will also have a Buy 1 Get 1 free offer on all Regular $5 Foot Long sandwich (no double meat or premiums). They are open for breakfast, have drive through service, and free internet. Another addition to our wonderful neighborhood!

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Presidential ReportFebruary 2010

Where did 2009 go? For that matter, where did the decade go—my, how time flies! This past year we turned 50 years old and a record number of people celebrated at our fall picnic and we kicked off a Capital Improvements Campaign to improve some of our signage to help maintain our property values. We also saw a record

12 inch snow fall in late January and a spring storm that brought damaging hail (check out all the new roofs) and tornado like winds (just ask the people on the corner of Ashurst and Knyghton how hard it blew). It is in the past now and we look forward to 2010. Our neighborhood continues to be a great place to live and with a huge help from BRAG we have seen a much needed re-vitalization come to our neighborhood proper. Speaking of BRAG, the board voted to donate money to its efforts to continue making our area the gateway to Indianapolis from the Northeast.

2010 looks promising as we look forward to more re-vitalization in our area, continued progress on our new sign project, an all-neighborhood clean-up day coming this spring (anyone’s kids need service hours?), a continued strong crime watch program plus many more activities.

All this can’t happen without your help. We need people to step up and put in a small amount of time to help guide our neighborhood. Our board consists of volunteers who are interested in keeping Devonshire III and VI moving forward. Please consider helping. Our annual meeting is coming up in April and we are looking for a few good people to help lead us into the next decade.

Available positions: Vice President, Block Captain Coordinator, Social Director, Improvement Director, Membership Director

Finally, let me join in the THANK YOU to Chery Snider and the Block Captains who have and continue to do a great job in servicing this neighborhood. I look forward to meeting those who can attend the “Their Just Desserts” appreciation gathering Feb. 18.

See you around the neighborhood,John Haines

TOWN HALL MEETINGOn Wednesday, February 10th at 7 pm at Divine Savior Lutheran Church, 7315 East 75th Street, BRAG is sponsoring a Town Hall Meeting with local City Councilors and City Department heads. C'mon and find out what's happening in our City that directly impacts our community.

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Binford Redevelopment & Growth, Inc.Joe Komenda, Crime Watch CommunicatorPh.: 849-0716; Email: brenkmen@aol.com

BRAG CRIME WATCH NOTICE of 1/5/10This is an update to BRAG Crime Watch Notice of 1/4/10:The following edited reports and information are from the Crime Watch Coordinator in Avalon Trail neighborhood concerning incidents that happened Monday 1/4/10: Yesterday (Monday) at about noon, our side of town was literally bombarded by burglars. At 12:15 Indianapolis Metro Police responded to a Burglary-in-Progress in the 7400-block of Railway Court (Subdivision near 75th/Hague RD). Police obtained a description and set out with a police dog to find the burglars. As a result, two burglars were arrested in the subdivision.

At almost the same time, our own neighborhood (Avalon Trail) had a possibledangerous Home Invader! At 12:23 p.m. our neighbor in the 7300-blk of Johnson Rd. was home when an invader burst into his home, forcing his way through the garage entry and confronting our neighbor! The Home Invader fled from the home on foot to the awaiting get-away car in the 7300-blk of Avalon Trail Rd. That’s where our crime watch member suspected that criminal activity was taking place and ran to obtain the license plate number. As our crime watch member ran out the door, the car (blue, possibly a Dodge Intrepid) was fleeing our neighborhood! Unfortunately, with dozens of police nearby, including police dogs, it was our own victim who failed to call police and make the report of the invasion. Police were not notified by the victim for almost four hours! Reporting crime and suspicious activity is the most important thing that we can do! With so many police nearby, had they received an immediate 911 call, they could have possibly stopped the criminals leaving our neighborhood onto Johnson Road! The lesson here: report all suspicious activity immediately, and especially report all crimes immediately. Editor Note: After phoning Police, then share the information with your neighborhood Crime Watch Coordinator or Contact. Follow up to Shell Station Robbery of 12/20/09 as reported by BRAG Crime Watch Notice of 12/30/09:We may all sleep a little better now knowing that with the help of the community, the person who pulled out a gun at the Shell Station has been charged. His accomplice died in a car crash.

Please donate to our area Police Substation!Please contribute snacks, nuts, pretzels, cookies, chips, beef jerky (anything individually wrapped) plus soft drinks. These food items are greatly enjoyed by our hard working patrol officers as they stop at our Police Substation 24/7. You can drop off your donation at the Movable Feast, 5741 East 71st Street, Monday to Friday, between 10 am and 4 pm. You can request a charitable donation form in return for your generosity.

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Did you miss the Holiday Party, 2009?

The Holiday Party held on December 13th was a great success with wonderful G.T. South’s food, fabulous door prizes, and the joy of spending time with neighborhood friends.

There were about 78 neighbors in attendance for the 2-hour party.

Special thanks go to the following for their generous support and donations:

1. Steve Sergi who provided us with beautiful poinsettia centerpieces which were given out as door prizes at the end of the evening.

2. Matt Orth for his beautiful hand-carved Santas, which some lucky folks won as door prizes.

3. Jim Holzman for his kind donation of many big bags of mixed nuts for door prizes

4. Binford Café for their gift certificate

5. Devonshire board for the t-shirt door prizesSee everyone next year!

- Sheryl Holko, Secretary

FOR SALE:Dining Room Furniture: table With 6 chairs and china cabinet (glass doors above and drawersbelow) $ 500. Piano $400.

Call 251-5782 Matt or Nita

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Special thanks go to the following for their generous support and

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Devonshire III & VI Meeting Minutes

The January meeting was held at the home of Sheryl Holko on January 21, 2010. In attendance were Rick Thedwall, Sheryl Holko, John Haines, Todd Roberson, Mary Breckenridge, and Denny Dinn.

The Board approved the November minutes.

The next order of business was an update from Treasurer Todd Roberson. (See details of his report elsewhere in the Crier). The Board approved a move of $3,800 from the regular cash fund into a Certificate of Deposit aimed toward the Capital Fund.

There was an update on the Holiday Party. Final reservation number was 78 persons and the party was deemed a success with minimal impact to the neighborhood budget because of the $10/person fee charged. There was a brief discussion on possibly changing the venue and structure for the Holiday Party in 2010, which was tabled for a later date.

John Haines gave us an idea of what Devonshire V is doing for their new sign. John outlined a discussion with Mike Noll about costs. First, John is meeting with a paralegal who has knowledge of the procedures for obtaining the necessary permits to proceed with our own plans for new signage. It was agreed that we begin with the process of legally obtaining permission to erect new signs, determine the amount and configuration of the land we acquire, and then move to the design stage based on the land outcome. John will update us further at either the February or March meeting.

We then discussed the openings on the board: Laura King and Chery Snyder are both resigning from their posts. The neighborhood must actively recruit interested parties to fill these two positions as well as for the needed assistance for the Social position and the Improvements spots. Rick Thedwall would also like to step down from his Vice President position should someone step forward to assume those responsibilities. The Annual Meeting will be held in April; it is hoped that interested neighbors will contact someone on the Board to report their ability and willingness to serve.

We were reminded that we had been remiss in recognizing and thanking the various Block Captains who serve the neighborhood with the dissemination of information and their “fingers on the pulse.” That “thank you” gathering will coincide with the February meeting on Thursday, February 18th (see further details elsewhere in the Crier and if you are a Block Captain, please keep that date open and watch for your invitation in the mail).

Sheryl Holko updated the Board on her experience with the Police Department’s complimentary offer to have an officer walk through her home to point out possible areas vulnerable to criminals. It was a very interesting and educational experience and she (Continued on page 9)

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(Minutes continued from page 8)

suggested that everyone take advantage of this opportunity (contact: Henry Castor, Community Resource Liaison Officer at (317) 327-6168 or email at c2552@indygov.org).

The Board voted to donate $500 to BRAG in appreciation and support of the tremendous amount of work they have done in the area, which benefits our neighborhood greatly.

The next Neighborhood meeting will be held on Thursday, February 18th at 7:00pm at the home of Jim & Mary Breckenridge.

Respectfully Submitted,Sheryl L. Holko, Secretary

BLOCK CAPTAINS TO BE HONOREDThe Devonshire Board members have voted to give our hardworking Block Captains their “just desserts” by honoring them with an appreciation gathering. This “thank you” gathering will coincide with the next monthly Neighborhood meeting on Thursday, February 18, 2010, at the home of Jim and Mary Breckenridge (6125 Brokenhurst). All Block Captains will be receiving a personal invitation by February 11th. Please let Mary know if you are a Block Captain and you do NOT receive an invitation: 253-3050. Thank you, Block Captains!

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New Neighbor Information Needed

The Neighborhood Association would like to

welcome all new residents to our area!If you are new to Devonshire III & VI but have not yet been contacted by your block captain, please call Chery Snyder at 257-2011.We have neighborhood information to pass along and we would also like to hear about you!

RTK LawncareBob Kramer, Owner

Leaf Removal

Sign up for Snow Removal

16 years experienceCall 507-3964 or 254-9084 for prices

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CRIME WATCH NEWS

We have had no burglaries and only two incidents in our neighborhood during the past two months. One involved a person on a bicycle looking into an open garage and the other was two people supposedly soliciting for The Boys and Girls Club. The Club was contacted and they stated they do not solicit door to door and they appreciated being informed.

IMPD reports that most burglaries are still occurring during the daytime when people are normally at work and Mondays, for some reason, are the most frequent day.Remember to keep your garage door shut and your house door locked during the day. If someone knocks on your door, ask through the closed door who it is and what they want. If it is a solicitor, tell them this is a no soliciting neighborhood and to leave. If they persist, call 911 and report it and then call me.

I did get several calls about solicitors and after investigating it was determined that they were from a legitimate home improvement company, but they left when I informed the company that this is a no soliciting neighborhood. Thanks to those who called.

Crime is still a problem in the surrounding area. In one incident a resident did not call 911 immediately, but discovered later that the police were in the neighborhood on another call about the same criminals. Please do not hesitate to report suspicious activity to 911. The police can make the determination on the type of response to take on an individual basis. In this case it may have helped to apprehend the criminals. They did get away.

Another report stated that the police were responding to an attempted break in when someone else close by saw the suspects and called 911. The burglars were apprehended.

Thanks again to all those who call me with information or questions.If you would like a free assessment on how to make your home harder to burglarize please contact IMPD Community Relations Liaison Officer Henry Castor at 327-6168 c2552@indy.gov . Several residents have had it done and found it informative and helpful.

Please sign up for the email distribution list as important and timely Crime Watch information is distributed through this method.

Thank you,Denny Dinn, Crime Watch Coordinator

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State-of-the-art digital keyboards.Individual computer stations for reinforcing musical concepts.

One-hour weekly classes for students in kindergarten through high school.Fun interactive theory games.

Grouped according to age and ability. Small class size.Conveniently located in Devonshire area.

Limited enrollment.

For more information, leave a message for Devonshire residents John and Diane Haines at 971-2643 (Voice Mail).

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Devonshire III and VI Improvements UpdateFebruary 2010

Cold but not much Snow

Just like last year, it has been a colder than normal winter but not much snow. It seems like we would never get above freezing in January. As of the writing of this article (end of January) the neighborhood has had to use Noll Landscaping only 3 times with one significant snow. Mike and his crew have done an outstanding job. We will continue to monitor the roads as February approaches. As always, Mike and I are in constant contact when a snow happens, so if he isn’t here when you think he should be here, please have patience. To keep our cost down we try our best to wait until a storm has completed before we begin the work. If you have any comments or questions, please give me a call at 257-0406 or e-mail me at pi-anodj@comcast.net.

PINK/ORANGE FLAGS—Remember the flags along the road are for the plows. Please do not remove them and if you see one down, please straighten them. It would be greatly appreci-ated.

Have you driven around the neighborhood latelyYes, I know the Christmas decorations are gone and the yards and trees are a dismal gray, but I was driving around the neighborhood the other day, and noticed I could see ALL the houses in the neighborhood. We have so many wonderful, different styled houses, in the neighborhood; it was hard to find those that were the same style as my own. If you get a chance, drive around the neighborhood and check out the houses that are normally covered in spring, summer and fall by the foliage of the trees.

Help needed for new neighborhood signs

As most of you know, in 2009 we started a capital improvement campaign to raise money for some new neighborhood signs to better represent the quality of our neighborhood and to help maintain our property values. We are in need of a person/company connected to the neighborhood (willing to donate some time) with:

--Legal background (lawyer/paralegal) to help interface with the city and/or property owners to help determine our best option.--Surveyor/Architect/Engineer to develop a site plan and sign design. --Brick Mason interested in building sign if that option is taken If you are one of these people please give me a call (432-6291) or drop me an email (pianodj@comcast.net)

John HainesImprovements Chairman

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Disbursements, Collections & Cash Flow

Todd Roberson // Treasurer, Devonshire III & VI Civic Association / 6223 Harbridge Road / 317.870.3354

Treasurer’s Report January 2010

Beginning Cash (Dec 15) $10,687.96Revenues

Dues PaidIncome from Dev III & VI Christmas

Party

$210.00$20.00

$230.00Disbursements

Snow Plowing $1642.75

($1642.75)NET CASH FOR MONTH ($1412.75)Ending Cash (Jan 15) $9275.21CAPITAL FUND $3800.00TOTAL ASSETS $13,075.21

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BRAG LISTENS TO EDUCATORS

On January 13, 2010, BRAG held a meeting to focus on educational issues at Divine Saviour Lutheran Church on 75th Street. Educators from our area: Dr. Woodson from Washington Township and Dr. Raimondi from Lawrence Township gave the audience an update and let us know that they were open for visits and for us to give helping hands. In addition our Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana, Dr. Tony Bennett, presented a short message and all three of the leaders answered questions.

Dr. Bennett said that at least 90% of the students need to graduate from high school--the two districts that were present are in the 80% range. These two school districts are probably near the best in Indiana, but we can all do better. A high school diploma means a job with future employers. Dr. Bennett stressed that schools, parents, and children all need to be held accountable and competition needs to be alive and well in the classrooms. He also said that to get where we ought to be, we need to focus on "Out-of-the-Box-Thinking." He means getting away from the status quo and producing new and exciting ways to educate our kids. The Superintendent of Public Instruction stressed that putting our children first is important. Students need 180 days of instruction, so don't take teaching hours away! He stated that a student should get a measurable year of growth for a year of instruction. Currently there is a movement to use computers rather than textbooks, and this very likely might separate those that have from those that don't. He feels that some will not be able to master the computer and will fall hopelessly behind. This is an excellent point that he made, and I, for one, think he is correct.

Before his election to office, Dr. Bennett was superintendent of a school corporation in Clark County, Indiana. He feels that too much time is spent during school board meetings talking about athletics and coaching. No doubt much time is wasted here, and what we need to do is to focus on learning and the acquisition of life skills.

One of my neighbors was upset by the huge amount of athletic facilities that have been constructed in Lawrence and other districts. When such imbalance in facilities exists, there is a good chance that the academic program is hurting.

School budgets need resetting according to Dr. Bennett. I think he means a better balance with more money in the academic areas. Class size is one area to be examined. With fewer students, the teacher is then allowed to individually instruct and correct the mistakes so that success is more possible. Classes I have taught with fewer students gave me time to know the student and to focus on the real needs of each individual.

The two district leaders pointed out that the International Baccalaureate degree is (Continued on page 16)

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(Educators continued from page 15)

offered to high achieving students in the last years of high school and this is helping these particular students to master serious material.

All in attendance felt that the children need to come first in the planning by school offi-cials. Other priorities seem to emerge and take the lead. I appreciated his strong ad-vocacy of education and his determination to make Indiana a leader in this na-tion. Most of my career was spent in education, first at Lawrence Central High School as a science teacher, next at Howe High School as a counselor, and lastly I taught for twenty five years at Butler University in the College of Education. I do disagree with Dr. Bennett about his stand on the role of teacher edu-cation at the university level. Revisions are likely needed in course work, but teacher education is a must for the academics and the "know-how" to work together to provide learning experiences for the classroom students. I am proud of the approximately 500 student teachers that I supervised during my college tenure as a professor. This was an excellent community gathering and I was pleased to be part of such a group. Thank you BRAG for sponsoring this program.

Dr. Robert F. Hessong, Devonshire Resident

6205 Rucker Road · Indianapolis, IN 46220 · (317)251-6187 · www.cosum.org · saviourumc@cosum.org

Church of the SaviourA United Methodist FellowshipRev. Dr. Rick L. Miller, Pastor

GREAT DECISIONS 2010Church Sanctuary—7:00 p.m.

February 3rd ....................................Special EnvoysSpeaker ........................................................... Dr. Susan Erickson

February 10th.....................................Kenya & R2PSpeaker ........................................................ Dr. Richard Fredland

February 17th......................................Global CrimeSpeaker ................................................Mr. Thomas Christenberry

February 24th................... China Security RelationsSpeaker ................................................................... Dr. Joseph Xu

Worship-10:00 am Church School-11:15 am

Church of the Saviour is located just east of

Binford Boulevard and north of 62nd Street,

off Rucker Road.

OUR MSSIONMaking God’s

Love Believable OUR MINISTRY

Experiencing Practical Christianity

OUR VISIONBecoming A Church of

Peace and Social Justice

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Just Around the Corner—Brag Has Lots to Brag About By Mary Breckenridge There were15 businesses in our neighborhood when the redevelopment of Binford Boulevard began, Now there are 51!The latest addition to our growing and more prosperous community is a new Subway restaurant (in the strip mall next to Kroger’s). It opened this January.

Kas Vargo, treasurer for BRAG, says, “If you appreciate BRAG’S accomplishments there’s lots you can do.” The key word is “do.” BRAG is an or-ganization of “doers.” Check the BRAG website, binford71.org, for possibilities.

Devonshire III and VI residents also need to donate money if we expect to implement even more ambient changes that will continue to improve property values in our neighborhood. BRAG wisely uses the grant money available but needs support from all of us. The basic donor level is $25. The Binford Visionary amount is $2,000 plus. At our last Devonshire board meeting, we elected to become Binford Activists. We’ve donated $500. That’s a little more than one dollar for each of our 419 households. It was the hope of board members that Devonshire residents would also donate according to what each household could budget.

We have the satisfaction of supporting an umbrella organization that has made life better for all of us--and our homes more appealing when we go to sell them. It wasn’t long ago when I tried to interest a friend in moving into Devonshire. I was told, “But there’s no grocery nearby.” Now we not only have an upscale Kroger’s, but lots of other shopping choices as well. Who among us isn’t proud of all the upscale improvements? Who among us doesn’t appreciate our own hardworking volunteer board? I’m sending my tax-deductible check payable to: Binford Redevelopment and Growth, Inc., Kas Vargo, Treasurer, Binford Redevelopment and Growth, Inc., 5844 Eastview Court, Indianapolis, IN 46250. Just think how much it would mean if we could get 100% for our Devonshire neighborhood and 100% support for BRAG. Let’s celebrate 2010 by getting out our checkbooks and encouraging a neighborhood future we believe in.

FREE Dell computer: Hard Drive, Screen, Keyboard, 2 Speakers, Sub Woofer Works good - Great computer for grandkids. Call 251-2475

FOUND JESUS!

Baby Jesus ended up on our yard during

the Christmas season. He is ceramic and belongs to a manger scene. Found on Breamore Road. tlwhit@hotmail.com

Neighborhood Notes:Monthly Neighborhood Association Meeting will be held on Thursday, February 18th at 7:00 pm; at the home of Mary and Jim Brekenridge; 6125 Brokenhurst Road. If you have any questions, please call Jim or Mary at 253-3050.

Myers Protection Services 865-1014; 8144 Madison Ave., Indianapolis, Indiana 46227.

Mayor’s Action Center: www.indygov.org Mayor’s Action Hotline 327-4622. Pot Hole Hotline 327-HOLE (327-4653).

Are you planning an addition to your home or a garage on your property? As part of the Devonshire III and VI Covenants and Restrictions, owners must submit their building plans and specifications to the Devonshire Architectural Committee prior to construction. Please contact one of the Committee members to present your plans: Rick Thedwall (254-1504); Richard Wheeler (254-8736); or Dan Ladendorf (257-4957)

News for the Crier can be delivered to Connie Dinnsen, 6410 Brixton Lane, 255-3536. FOR SALE and WANTED notices are free to DCA members. Deadline for the March 2010 Crier is February 23, 2010. Paid advertising rates: Business card size $130.00/yr. or $15.00/month (three month minimum)

1/4 Page $200.00/yr. or $25.00/month (three month minimum)1/2 Page $250.00/yr. or $30.00/month (no monthly minimum)

Full Page $425.00/yr. or $60.00/month (no monthly minimum)Reaches 425 families/month.$10 discount if you are a member of the Association (available only for yearly ads).All copy must be copy-ready.Make checks payable to: Devonshire III and VI Civic Association.Ads must be paid in advance. Send payment to Connie Dinnsen, 6410 Brixton Lane, Indianapolis, IN 46220Deadline for the March 2010 Crier is February 23, 2010. Contact Connie Dinnsen for further information. E-mail her at dinnsenc@yahoo.com or call her at: Home (317) 255-3536 Cell (317) 908-6007.