IRLC Reps Discuss Ecological Issues at RNA Meeting

Representatives from the Indian River Lakes Conservancy (IRLC) highlighted local ecological issues and encouraged community participation at Tuesday’s RedwoodNeighborhood Association meeting.

New Partnership Brings Fresh Produce to Redwood Food Pantry

The belles of Better Farm transport Redwood's Community Greenhouse to its new home.

A new partnership has turned the Redwood Community Greenhouse into a produce operation that will supply fresh greens and veggies to the Redwood Food Pantry.

First Annual Dragonfly Festival Tomorrow in Redwood!

The Redwood Neighborhood Association's First Annual Dragonfly Festival is slated from 12-3 p.m. Saturday, May 31, at the Lowell Felder Memorial Park Pavilion in downtown Redwood behind Felder's Convenience Store.

Tree Sale to Beautify Redwood, Benefit Association

Weeping Cherry Tree

The Redwood Neighborhood Association has launched a tree-sale fundraiser of different flowering and edible trees.

Sale cost includes shipping, tax, and (optional) planting of the tree on an individual's property. Here are the trees available for order.

Prairie Fire Crabapple, $40

Sugar Maple, $25

Weeping Cherry, $25

Winesap Apple, $30

Purple Locust, $40

Catalpa, $20

Black Tupelo, $30

Dwarf Fig, $30

 

All trees will be between 3 and 6 feet at time of delivery. Checks made out to Redwood Neighborhood Association, along with a completed order form or list of trees, may be dropped off at or sent to:

Redwood Neighborhood Association
ATTN: Nicole Caldwell
31060 Cottage Hill Road
Redwood, NY 13679


Trees will be ordered in late April and/or early May. Questions may be directed to Nicole.Caldwell@betterfarm.org.

March 2014 Food$en$e Order Form

The Redwood Neighborhood Association is a proud partner of the local FoodSenSe chapter. For additional information, please call Kathy Nelson at (315) 486-4992.

Meeting Notes: 1/14/14

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RNA Meeting 1/14/14

CALL TO ORDER

Greg Basralian

Allen Briggs

Nicole Caldwell

Fran Farren

Katie Hunter

Rick Lopez

Kevin Nelson

Kathy Nelson

Laurie Petersen

Treasurer's Report: $630

Open/Public Comments

Fran Farren Reporting:

A survey came in from the Township ofAlexandria regarding our opinions on quality of life and more. RNA should answer and attach letter to survey for consideration by town. What is our #1 industry? Tourism because of the St. Lawrence River and Indian River Lakes System. The RNA needs to offer representation. What is the biggest threat to the lakes around here? Pollution (at large) and milfoil.

Addendum notes to survey (group will draft and mail to town):

• Pavilion lights: require expanding lighting district by two lights if we want town to be responsible. For us it is $1,000 per light to maintain.
• Public dockage/boat launch: inadequate boat launch at Butterfield Lake. Requires a dock and/or cribs with gravel for ease of boat launching.
• Baseball field—requires draining, markers and landscaping, then dugout
• Pavilion—constant issue with destruction of fencing. Hearts for Youth owns playground. RNA put pavilion up but maintenance falls on Hearts for Youth
• Apartments and rentals: okay to have some but not too much, more parking (hamlet-wide parking?) needed
• Pedestrian trails: more maintenance and more trails needed!
• What types of businesses do we want to attract?
• Opinions on zoning: some is too strict, some is not strict enough.
• Public transportation: ride shares? Bulletin boards? Small-scale bus system between Bay, Redwood, Watertown? Carpool program?

Discussion of giving $100 to church bi-annually for use of space (unanimous)

Kevin chairing effort for community-wide Thanksgiving celebration. Survey FB group to determine date and attendance. Thanksgiving Day? Or weekend before? Firehall? Tavern? Get donations of food to prepare.

Can drive: Pick up provided? Tavern is willing to accept bagged cans. If cans are marked we can receive separate checks from Theresa redemption.

Shirts: Nicole will send around designs and order shirts before next meeting.

Kathy will file for e-statements from Watertown Savings Bank. Asked about PO Box. Used to have one; since lapsed. Group decides no need to renew if we can get electronic banking statements, as most donations/memberships determined in-person.

Kathy said Food Sense Program is going very well, RNA is listed as a partner. Group has expanded to include families in Philadelphia, etc. Would like to set up a bank account through RNA. Would not mix with RNA funds. Unanimously approved. Suggestion by Nicole that Better Farm might attend pick-up days to sell fresh produce. Kathy in favor.

Redwood Composting: Katie proposing “Better Buckets” compost program. People can sign up, bucket dropped off, weekly pickups to compost at community greenhouse to create dirt.

For next meeting: brainstorm spring fundraiser. Greg offering up space at Tavern for said event. Wine/beer pairing? Chili or fish-fry cookoff? Iron chef? Think of March or April event.

Greenhouse Goes Up in Redwood

Redwood Neighborhood Association Vice President Jim Stine holds the metal greenhouse arch in place.

Members of the Redwood Neighborhood Association met last Saturday at the Redwood Volunteer Fire Department to construct a community greenhouse for the public.

With funds secured from the local not-for-profit Hearts for Youth, the neighborhood group's plan was to build a structure to house seedlings and plants for the community. Local residents interested in participating can sign up to help tend the plants, with all excess produce going to the local food pantry.


At the commissioners' meeting at the fire hall April 10, I presented the idea of the greenhouse being put on that property. The group voted unanimously in favor of providing the host site for the greenhouse.

Here are some shots of the construction (thanks to Rick Lopez for the design, Jim Stine for donating some of the materials, and the Better Farm crew for lending a hand!):

All that's left to do are the doors and the greenhouse plastic. Want to get involved, as a volunteer or gardener? Shoot us an e-mail or call (315) 482-2536. And stay tuned for an upcoming announcement on our planting day!