A potluck of chilis, soups, and fixings was the backdrop to the annualPolice/ Fire/ EMT appreciation dinner, sponsored by the Community Association of Historic St. Elmo (CAHSE). In lieu of their normal month meeting (always the first Monday of the month), the Chili Con CAHSE-O was a chili cookoff for any of the St. Elmo Neighbors to participate in. The area police officers (Charlie sector) and Fire department (station 14, squad 4) arrived to enjoy the food and judge the chili cookoff.
[tags]St. Elmo, Chattanooga, Chattanooga Fire Department, Chattanooga Police Department, appreciation dinner[/tags]
Yesterday evening we went to the park to enjoy some time with our neighbors for National Night Out.
The Mayor made it to our neighborhood and we learned that he is an Auburn alum. When he found out that Damon is Auburn Elvis, Mayor Littlefield told Damon he might want him to come to City Hall at some point!
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Tomorrow, May 26, is the annual St. Elmo community yard sale. You can travel the streets of St. Elmo and find lots of deal and bargains on many second hand items. We have purchased several toys for our son this way.
Now that we have a community playground, we have some space to have centralized sales. The Community Association of Historic St. Elmo (CAHSE), formerly the St. Elmo Improvement League, is selling spaces for folks to bring their wares. Space rental is $10, if you are interested leave a comment or contact me and I will tell you who to contact.
The playground is located on the 4900 block of St. Elmo Avenue with a parking lot and parking along the street. Bring the family and let the kids play while you shop!
[tags]Chattanooga, St. Elmo, St. Elmo yard sale, yard sale[/tags]
I think I went to the playground site about five times yesterday. I would have been content to just sit on the sidelines and watch them build all day yesterday, but I have a two year old. Enough said.
On one of our trips over there we were greeted by a few cars labeled with local news logos. News Channel 9 was leaving and News Channel 3 was unloading. We got to speak with Lesley Dale and tell her how the community got together to plan this playground. From the early meeting with Learning Structures where the kids got to draw their playground wants to the tree house that is currently being built.
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This pretty lady is Heidi Chapin. She is a St. Elmo resident and the champion behind getting our playground built. She is the one who has dealt with the city, rallied the neighbors, and been point person with Learning Structures. I know that there are many others who have been working to get to today’s build, but when I think about the St. Elmo Playground, I think Heidi Chapin.
I spoke to Heidi today and told her she didn’t seem too stressed. She said that things were going well and there wasn’t much to be stressed about.
The first day of the build went well. Lots of holes were dug, plenty of concrete was poured, and many posts were raised. I went to the site about five times and each time I came back home, I checked the concept drawings to see if I could match up the different structures to the proposed finished products. The progress that the builders/ neighbors are making is amazing. And I can’t wait until Saturday when I get to actually help on the site. (Today I did home child care for one little boy who’s dad was helping on the site for a few hours.)
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Yesterday I wrote about certain hazards at the St. Elmo Park. This is the same park where the playground will be built, beginning tomorrow.
As I mentioned, I did call 311 to report the hazards. A very nice woman named Wendy took my concerns, my name, and my phone number. She said that should would be reporting these to the Parks Department.
However, in the interest of honesty, I didn’t call 311 until about 3:45 this afternoon. My day got away from me and I got too busy to call. What prompted me to remember to call was an encounter I had around 3:30.
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As I wrote earlier this week, the build for St. Elmo’s new playground is coming up. This Thursday the ground will be broken, wood will be sawed, and screws will be screwed.
The Times Free Press helped with the efforts today by putting our neighborhood plea out there for their readers- we need volunteers!
So, once again I will ask that if you have any kind of experience or desire to help, check out the St. Elmo website and sign up. I know one St. Elmo resident who will be very thankful.
[tags]Chattanooga, St. Elmo, St. Elmo playground, playground[/tags]
I live very close to a space that was cleared last year and has been sitting, waiting for some excitement.
And that excitement is coming very soon!
St. Elmo is getting a neighborhood park that will include a walking track and playground. The playground will be built by volunteers who are ready to give back to this community their time, strength, and sweat. And the result is going to be a place where children will play, adults will fellowship, and a neighborhood will come together.
Heidi Chapin has been working very hard on this project, gathering the residents together to plan the park (see the plans here) and now rallying the neighbors to sign up and get there.
I got an email from Heidi this evening and here is what she says:
We really need volunteers.
Thursday: have 33 need 38
Friday: have 27 need 38
Saturday: have 67 need 200
Sunday: Have 30 need 200
We are still looking at raising about $500 more.
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The Chattanooga Times Free Press website has a video piece about the funeral of Sgt. John Michael Sullivan who was buried yesterday at the National Cemetery.
I read the lead article in today’s paper and learned about the sacrifice that Sgt. Sullivan made for his country and it brought tears to my eyes. I saw the pictures of his wife hugging their son and my heart hurt.
My father is a chaplain in the Air Force and he leaves for Afghanistan on Thursday. He spent six months in Iraq in 2005. My prayers are with my dad as he serves and the Sullivan family as they mourn.
~Every evening, when I leave work and head toward the parking garage I pass by a security gaurd. And every evening that I pass that security gaurd I am greeted with a big smile and a countdown to Saturday.
“One down, just four more to go!”
“You made it through two! Stay warm going home!”
“Hump day! Almost there.”
“Yeah! One more day, just one more day, you can do it!”
It’s not just me he is talking to, it is all the folks done with their day and just ready to get on with their non-work lives. And his cheering for us makes me eager to see him the next day.
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