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<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial size=2>Neighbors!
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial size=2>I've been promising
a newsletter for a week at least, and keep sending out short blurbs, so here it
is at long last - the long version of the short story!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=4>Events</FONT></SPAN></DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial color=#000000
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Milestone
Parents Club Tag Sale! Saturday, May 2, 11am -
4pm Broad Street Playground</STRONG></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Milestone School
Parents Club is pleased to announce their first ever tag sale to raise money for
capital improvements at the school on Broad Street. The tag sale will take place
at the Broad Street Playground, across from the Duane Reade, and features Toys,
Books, Clothing (Child and Adult), Household Items, Home Decor, and more!
Have some stuff you want to donate? Bring it to the playground between 9am -
11am...then come back before 4pm to replace the stuff you got rid of with more
stuff!!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=2>Wednesday,
May 13, 2009 - FNA Meeting - School Board Candidate Forum and Budget
Presentation</FONT></STRONG></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial size=2>Come to the
Riverside Memorial Chapel at 7:00 pm and get informed before casting your vote
at the upcoming School Board Elections and Budget Vote! (May 19) Dr.
Sawyer, superintendent, will be presenting the 2009 - 2010 school budget to the
public. All candidates will be invited to speak at the event (there will
be no public questioning or debating during the forum - the public is welcome to
ask the candidates questions following the meeting.) Any questions? Please
call Susan at 914-668-9148, or email me at <A
href="mailto:susan@fleetwoodneighbors.org">susan@fleetwoodneighbors.org</A>.
(email is best!)</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Friday, May
15, 2009 -</STRONG> <STRONG>Annual Talkin' Trash and Spring Planting Event! 8am
- 4pm, meet at Fleetwood Deli-Cafe!</STRONG></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009></SPAN><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT
face=Arial size=2>Mother's Day is May 10, which means that the Annual Fleetwood
Flowering isn't far behind!! Join us as we make an instant impact on the center
of our community! All you need to bring is some scruffy clothes and a warm heart
- we'll provide the rest - even the food! Many, Many thanks to <STRONG>Goldman
Sach's Community Teamwork's</STRONG> Program for providing volunteers and
financial support, and to <STRONG>Gherardi's Greenhouses</STRONG>, for starting
our plants from seed, tending them, and then delivering our supplies!
(Don't forget to stop by Gherardi's for all your planting and landscaping
needs! Not only will they sell you plants - but they know more about what
thrives in our area than anyone else I know, even Pat!)</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><STRONG>Saturday, May 16, 2009 - Planting at
the Armory Memorial Garden! 10am - 1pm, meet at the
Armory!</STRONG></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009>Can't make it on Friday but want to help?
Join at at the Armory on 5th Avenue as we tend to our new garden, just planted
last year. The cleanup is complete - it's just time to plant some lovely
annuals and spread some love. Can't plant, but want to help? Why not stop by and
just chat with us? We love to chat as we plant - and Pat is always sure to come
up with some new blarney for us to chew on!</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><STRONG>Sunday, May 17, 2009 - Sts. Peter
and Paul Carnival! Parking Lot!</STRONG></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009> Come support Sts Peter and Paul as
they celebrate Spring with a great new carnival in their parking lot on
Westchester Avenue! Volunteers are needed for this event - so please call
them if you can help!</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><STRONG>Monday, May 18, 2009 - Fleetwood
Pride Meeting - Riverside Memorial Chapel</STRONG></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009>Fleetwood Pride is back in action and will
be meeting at the Riverside Memorial Chapel at 7:30 pm. Members,
Non-Members and Guests are welcome to attend. </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><STRONG>Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - School Board
Candidate Election and Budget Vote!</STRONG></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009>Get out there and VOTE! Most of you
have read Bob's rants, and now mine, about doing your duty and voting in every
election, so I'll save you all tonight...but do remember how many people have
died, and are currently fighting, for our right to vote - don't waste
it!</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><STRONG><FONT color=#ff00ff>Friends of
Janine / Rockin' The Cradle Festival for Baby Sofia</FONT></STRONG></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009>As many of you know, a local family in
Fleetwood has faced incredible tragedy this year, and are bravely stepping
forward to raise their brand new grandchild, Sofia Tousa. A close friend
of the family has started an incredible movement to raise funds to help support
Sofia! I urge you to visit <A
href="http://www.myspace.com/friendsofjanine">www.myspace.com/friendsofjanine</A>,
or find the group on Facebook "Friends of Janine". The Rockin' the Cradle
Festival is planned for June 28, 2009 from 12p - 6p and will feature live
entertainment, children's rides, games, crafts and entertainers, merchandise
sales, the Westchester Pipes and Drums, and more! There will be something for
EVERYONE at the festival - so be sure to check it out!) You can also email
at <A href="mailto:fojbc@yahoo.com">fojbc@yahoo.com</A> for more information, to
volunteer, donate something for the raffles, or just to offer your support for
this endeavor!</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009> </DIV>
<P class=style28></SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
class=909381401-02052009><STRONG><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>City of
Mount Vernon Updates</FONT></STRONG></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Quality of
Life</STRONG></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial size=2>On Thursday, board
members of the Fleetwood Neighborhood Association met with City Commissioners
including: Jeff Williams (Planning), Rudy Persaud (DPW), Dwuan Martins (DPW),
Ralph Tedesco (Buildings) and Brian Bochow (Deputy Chief of Staff/Public
Relations). The focus of this meeting was to take a walk around some parts
of Fleetwood, and show them exactly what we're talking about when we complain
about sidewalks, potholes, unfinished projects, the playground issues,
etc. We could NOT take them everywhere, so we did what we could in about
an hour. Highlights of the tour: Intersection of Broad Street and Locust
Avenue: They are going to research and implement a solution to the traffic
problem at that corner. Between commuters, the school, the parkway, and
more, the corner can be a very dangerous place to be! They explored some
very creative solutions, from the simple to the complex, and I believe we'll be
seeing some changes in the coming months. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial size=2>In addition, we
strolled through the parking garage. A picture was taken of the infamous
missing "F" in the sign, and the problems in the garage were clearly
outlined. So far, we know that thanks to a grant from Gary Pretlow's
office, we'll be able to get new elevators in the garage starting in June.
Beyond that, a scope of work has been developed for garage improvements, and
they are sorting the needs based on what can be fixed in house with DPW staff
and equipment, and what needs to be addressed by contractors. We'll be
seeing some progress in this area, I'm sure. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=2>Supermarket
in Fleetwood!</FONT></STRONG></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial size=2>Unofficially, it was
announced at a meeting last week that the Gizzo family is seeking permits to
create a grocery store at the former Samba Na Brasa location on Broad
Street. (I was told it had to remain "unofficial", but they didn't tell me
not to print it!) Previously, I had been told that this location would NOT
work due to trucking and shipping issues, but I guess they are working those
issues out. Hopefully - the garage will be fixed before we're expected to
schlep our groceries through it!!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><STRONG><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Relay for Life - June 12 - 13!</FONT></STRONG></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2>Did you wear
purple today!? If so, you were eligible for discounts and excitement throughout
Mount Vernon! The Mount Vernon Relay for Life is the premiere event in Mount
Vernon for raising funds to fight cancer. For more information on
sponsoring a team, joining a team, or being a part of this amazing event, please
visit </FONT><FONT size=2><A
href="http://www.RelayForLife.org/MtVernonNY">www.RelayForLife.org/MtVernonNY</A>.
</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial size=2>OK Neighbors - I
think that's enough for our long-letter:) I'll be in touch in a week or
two with even more! See you all on the 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 of May! (By
then, we'll all be sick of each other!)</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=909381401-02052009><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV></BODY></HTML>