Sherwood Forest Neighborhood Association
Meeting Notes from October 17, 2006
Submitted by Valerie Marcil, Secretary

The meeting was held at the Sherwood Forest Presbyterian Church and ran from approximately 6 –7:45 PM. About 23 people were in attendance, with Association President, Russell Jones, presiding.

Russell introduced the officers and talked about the need for a Communications Committee Chair. This committee handles membership, block captains, the association website, and the newsletter. Russell also talked about the need to find a way to get more folks to use the website. Anyone with ideas, please contact Russell or one of the other officers or Executive Committee members. Russell’s email is southcarolinarealtor@gmail.com. Look around our website, www.sherwoodforestneighbors.org, for more information and contacts!

Larry Hembree, our Vice President, gave a report on the progress of work at the Belser Arboretum through our City of Columbia CANDO grant. The grant includes plans for plantings along the exterior portions of the arboretum fence on Bloomwood and Wilmot, benches amongst these plantings, and attractive entrance gates. (At this writing, much of this work has been done. For more information on the arboretum see the newsletter article.) The arboretum is becoming a neighborhood jewel thanks to the leadership of USC professor Dr. Pat DeCoursey who is the arboretum manager! Many neighborhood residents have also contributed hours of rewarding time helping Pat.

Treasurer, Rhett Bailey, reminded us that dues run from July to June, so if you haven’t paid dues yet, please send them to Rhett (511 Kalmia Drive). Member dues are set at $30 dollars per household, or $100 for corporate memberships. Dues support neighborhood projects such as our match for beautification grants. Anyone in the neighborhood is welcome to join in Association meetings and events. Membership allows one to participate in votes at meetings.

Halloween party plans for October 29th on LaBruce Lane were announced. Luminaries were offered to anyone wishing to encourage trick-or-treaters.

One of the bonuses of coming to meetings is getting first hand information from outside speakers. Once again, we had several guest speakers at our meeting. Candidates for our SC House Representative, Jim Harrison and Boyd Summers both spoke about their positions. This was a wonderful opportunity to meet these two men in person and get a better sense of who they are and what they stand for. Ann Posner from Historic Columbia Foundation (HCF) also spoke. Ann is the coordinator for volunteer services at HCF and gave us some general information about what HCF is doing. She came in place of John Sherrer who was to speak about how to achieve historic neighborhood designation through the City of Columbia. Russell will follow through with John.

One of the partners developing the lot on the corner of Azalea and Beltline was also present at the meeting. He described the plans for a PUD (Planned Unit Development) for 4 structures (including the one already there) with two units each (condos) in them, with two parking spaces per unit. He also answered a number of questions from those present.

Plans for the coming year may include designing and installing special street signs and neighborhood entrance signs. We may also considering working towards achieving Neighborhood Crime Watch status. This is a City sponsored program to encourage safe neighborhoods. Various incidents of break-ins in the neighborhood continue to be of concern. Becoming a Crime Watch neighborhood could help deter crime.

Lewis Kirk, our website manager, reminded us that any community member who registers can post notices to our website – a potentially good source of communication.