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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=832081103-04042009>Hello
Neighbors!</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=832081103-04042009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=832081103-04042009>First, I would like
to thank Spring for finally arriving - I have one blooming daffodil - and
it has brightened my life tremendously...feel free to respond to me with your
favorite signs of spring! I love to share those:)</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=832081103-04042009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=832081103-04042009>(That didn't count
as an announcement - just some good news...)</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=832081103-04042009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=4><SPAN
class=832081103-04042009><STRONG>Friends of Janine Benefit Committee/Rockin' The
Cradle Benefit Concert</STRONG></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=832081103-04042009>A lot is happening
in and around Mount Vernon these days. You're going to be hearing a lot
from me, and others, about the <STRONG>Friends of Janine Benefit
Committee</STRONG> and the <STRONG>Rockin' The Cradle concert</STRONG>.
This committee was formed to raise money and support for a very dear family in
Fleetwood - the O'Hara's. Many of you know Ray and Janet, and still
more know Michael Tousa, and/or grew up with the girls. For those who do
not know the story, a very brief recap:</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=832081103-04042009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=832081103-04042009>Sofia was born on
March 13 to Janine O'Hara and Michael Tousa. She has some medical
problems, and is still in the hospital. She is facing possible major
surgery, and will be in therapy for months at least. Sadly, ten days after
her birth, Janine, Sofia's mother, suddenly died from an aneurysm. Ray and
Janet, Sofia's grandparents, have bravely stepped forward to raise the
baby. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=832081103-04042009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=832081103-04042009>The Friends of
Janine Benefit Committee was formed specifically to organize a benefit festival
in honor of the O'Hara family, and raise money to place in trust for
Sofia. This event idea has sparked hundreds of other ideas and so, the
Spring of Sofia is born. Across Mount Vernon, indeed, across the country,
offers of support are flying in. From offers to sponsor the festival, to donate
raffle items, even to sell tickets - I have never seen this community come alive
in such a positive manner. It is truly invigorating! In an effort to
pull everyone together and get rolling on some amazing fundraisers, the Friends
of Janine committee is hosting a <STRONG>meeting at 7:30 p.m. at
the Athena Diner on Tuesday, April 14</STRONG>. I have attached
a flyer promoting this meeting - so please reproduce it, hang it in your
buildings, or share it with your neighbors. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=832081103-04042009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=832081103-04042009>If you would like to
contact the committee directly, please email <A
href="mailto:fojbc@yahoo.com">fojbc@yahoo.com</A>, or call
914-629-3598.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=832081103-04042009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=832081103-04042009>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=4><SPAN
class=832081103-04042009><STRONG>Free Real Estate
Seminars</STRONG></SPAN></FONT></DIV></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=832081103-04042009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=832081103-04042009>The City of Mount
Vernon is hosting four free seminars entitled "Hot to Buy/Sell/Finance Real
Estate without Losing Your Shirt." The seminars include private counseling
appointments to be hosted at City Hall. Two longtime Mount Vernon
residents will be hosting and leading the seminars - The Fleetwood Neighborhood
Association's own members Edna Haber and Liz Lindsey!</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=832081103-04042009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=832081103-04042009>The four seminars
will take place on:</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<UL>
<LI><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=832081103-04042009>Monday, April 6 at
6:30 pm (Buying Smart)</SPAN></FONT></LI>
<LI><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=832081103-04042009>Saturday, April 18
at 12 pm (Selling Smart)</SPAN></FONT></LI>
<LI><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=832081103-04042009>Monday, April 27 at
6:30 (Buying Smart)</SPAN></FONT></LI>
<LI><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=832081103-04042009>Saturday, May 9 at
12 pm (Selling Smart)</SPAN></FONT></LI></UL>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=832081103-04042009>I'm sure they will
be informative and interesting seminars - I hope many residents attend and enjoy
them! Good luck Liz and Edna with this project!</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=832081103-04042009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=832081103-04042009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=4><SPAN class=832081103-04042009><SPAN
class=832081103-04042009><STRONG>Other News and
Updates</STRONG></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=4><SPAN class=832081103-04042009><SPAN
class=832081103-04042009><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=2>T<SPAN
class=832081103-04042009>he Fleetwood Neighborhood Association has been meeting
regularly with the City of Mount Vernon and Chamber of Commerce in an effort to
improve communications within and without. Last month was a meeting with
DPW, where I learned a lot! I know a lot of people have been complaining
about potholes - we had a rough winter with the freezing and warming trends, so
the streets really took a beating. DPW is out there now paving and filling
holes - but please understand - like painting your house, it has to be a
certain temperature or the patches won't set. Now that the weather is getting
consistently warmer - you'll see crews out and about filling in holes and fixing
up the city. If you have a crater in your neighborhood - please call DPW at
914-665-2460 and report it! They are working to identify target areas in Mount
Vernon that are in dire straits and fix those first, and then move on from
there. So please pick up your phone and help them identify target areas.
You know - like on Broad Street and Gramatan Avenue where we trip everyday on
the way to the train station? Central Parkway and Grand Street - with the metal
plate on the ground for 11 months? Those
places:)</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=832081103-04042009></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=832081103-04042009><STRONG>Don't Forget! Spring Planting - May 15! More
info coming soon!!</STRONG></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=832081103-04042009><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=832081103-04042009>Have a wonderful holiday week, may it be happy and
safe!</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=832081103-04042009><STRONG></STRONG></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000><FONT face="Blackadder ITC" size=5><SPAN
class=832081103-04042009><EM>Suzie </EM></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=832081103-04042009></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=832081103-04042009></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
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