New Slide Completes Work on Playground Repairs

Newman Park now has a new slide. You may remember that two of the slides had to be removed because of damage. (A third one was subsequently removed and replaced along with one other almost immediately after the damage was discovered.) Finding a replacement for the spiral slide was not easy.

This particular playground system, the spiral slide and associated parts are no longer made because of its age. The The City's General Services Department had to find an alternative. (Machining a new part was not an option because of safety standards.)

Thanks to General Services Director, Stuart Ed, an acceptable slide and associated parts were located as well as a Certified Playground Installer since the usual contractor would not have been available until November.

Mom, Cindy Montes-Bustamante, was thrilled when she heard about the installation. "Wait until my daughter sees it this afternoon!" she exclaimed. Cindy and her daughter were instrumental in requesting that the installation of a new slide be expedited.

Lion Star Blogger Tells City to Fix Parks & Rec PR Issue

Today there has been a strong reaction from the blogosphere (the digital media) to Wayne Thornton's slander of elpasonaturally:

"The Lion Star Blog by Jaime Abeytia: Dear City Officials - Fix Parks & Rec PR Issue: Whenever I feel strongly about an issue having to do with the city, I usually pick of the phone and call the offices of almost every city re..."

Thank you, Brother Jaime! I particularly liked this comment of yours: "I don't know about other bloggers in town because I haven't aske, but Iam onmost media lists in town despite the fact that I am not a journalist. They understand the interface we have with the community." [Emphasis is mine.]

I also loved this comment: "Sorry Wayne, you don't get to decide who is and who isn't media. Your title as I understand it is Public Relations Director. It's not Director of Communications with Whoever-The Hell-You-Arbitrarily-Decide-is-Media." I love to give 'em hell - but I can't give it like this.

A hat tip also to David K. over at Refuse the Juice who posted this on 9/21: http://refusethejuice.typepad.com/thinkaboutit/2012/09/a-blog-post-you-should-read-react-to.html

Mr. Thornton did deign to put me on his official "press" list for press releases. He joins others at City Hall who had never had such problems with the "interface [that I have] with the community": Neighborhood Services, Economic Development, Planning, several City Representatives. What is disgusting is that he had to be forced to do so. 

Parks and Recreation Department Disdains Freedom of the Press

I routinely get press releases from several City of El Paso Departments - both for my newman park blog and my elpasonaturally blog. Associated with both blogs are two e-letters that people subscribe to: elpasonaturally and Hola Vecinos, the Newman Park Association and friends letter. Today, Mr. Wayne Thornton, Public Relations Director for the City's Parks and Recreation Department, refused to put me on his press release distribution list because I'm "not media"/"not press". I wouldn't have thought to have asked him about it except that a reader of my neighborhood association letter asked why I had not included the Arts in the Park event this weekend sponsored by the Parks Department. I didn't because I hadn't heard about it. I certainly would have promoted this event at Memorial Park, if I had known. Apparently, I won't know about future parks and recreation events because I'm "not media"/"not press" according to Mr. Wayne Thornton, who by the way writes a delightful column for the El Paso Times and who, therefore, should have a stronger value of freedom of the press.

I not only think that the Parks and Recreation Department's refusal is wrong - it is wrong on so many levels. First, I'm a member (appointed by City Council) of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. For no other reason, you think that I would receive the courtesy. Next, other City Departments have no problem including me. Third, as a citizen (and, yes, as someone who publishes and distributes to subscribers, i.e., PRESS), my civil rights have been violated not to mention the slander involved. Finally, if this matter isn't resolved to my satisfaction, I believe that the Open Records laws of the State of Texas have been violated and that the Attorney General of this State should become involved.

To think - all I wanted to do was to promote a Parks event and help get the word out to a wider audience. Silly me.

Jim Tolbert
www.elpasonaturally.blogspot.com
www.newmanpark.blogspot.com
Publisher of elpasonaturally and Hola Vecinos

Free Movie Saturday at Mission Hills Park

Click on image to enlarge.

Becky Friesenhahn Is New NPNA President!

There are new members and new officers on your Newman Park Neighborhood Association Board:

Becky Friesenhahn,        President

Violet Urquidez,               Vice President

Robert Taylor,                   Treasurer

Jim Tolbert,                        Secretary

Orlando Arriola

Andrea Baca

Alma Foreman

Lisa Garibay

Ana Reyes

Sally Sauli

The El Paso Department of Transportation has announced a two week closure of Scenic Drive except for Scenic Sundays from 6 to 11 a.m. when the road is available to walkers, runners, hikers, bicyclists and even Chihuahuas (accompanied by a human):

The public is advised that Scenic Drive will be closed to the traveling public for two weeks effective September 17^th to allow for roadway improvements.  The City of El Paso Department of Transportation (EPDoT) will be making repairs to the concrete pavement, rock walls and roadway striping from September 17^th through the 29^th.  During this period, Scenic Drive will only be open to the public on Sundays for participants of Scenic Sundays.  Proper traffic control measures will be in place to direct the traveling public through this area for this period. Traffic will be detoured through nearby streets. The project schedule is a plan that may be modified due to the weather or other unforeseen events.

Our neighborhood library has turned a new page in its history.  Acting Branch Manager Laurel Indalecio invites you to the Expansion Celebration to be held at the Memorial Park Library, 3200 Copper, on Thursday, September 20, 2012 at 2 p.m. Be sure to book this event.

Finally, City Council Representative Steve Ortega has published a fact sheet about Triple A Baseball in El Paso. You can read it here.

Vaya con Dios!

¡Hola Vecinos!© is an emailed newsletter for the people and businesses in the Newman Park neighborhood of El Paso, their friends and other interested persons. It is written and published by Jim Tolbert who takes sole responsibility for the content of the letter. To subscribe or unsubscribe, just reply to this letter or email jimhtolbert@elp.rr.com.

Please visit www.newmanpark.blogspot.com and www.elpasonaturally.blogspot.com.

The mission of the Newman Park Neighborhood Association is to improve the quality of life in the Newman Park neighborhood through care and attention to the park and surrounding areas, and to build a community network of care, watchfulness and concern for each other and our beautiful desert environment.

This is Volume 7 and Number 28 published on September 15 , 2012

El Paso Triple A Baseball Facts

Below is an El Paso Triple A Baseball Fact Sheet followed by a note from City Council Representative Steve Ortega. You can also read the City's Fact Sheet. 

El Paso Baseball Fact Sheet

To enlarge, click on the title or the icon in the bottom right hand corner.

"I am asking for your help on behalf of our community. 

"Over the last decade, El Paso has made huge strides in becoming a great American city.  To contrast, at the close of the last century El Paso was a national leader in out-migration ("brain drain"), a national leader in low-wages (59% of the nat'l average), and a leader in the exportation of talent and capital (eg., loss of El Paso Gas headquarters, loss of 3rd Armored Cavalry, Court of Inquiry asked why El Paso was at the bottom end of TxDOT funding).  Political leadership did not believe in El Paso, business leadership did not believe in El Paso, and it's fair to say - El Paso did not believe in El Paso. 

"Since that time, El Paso’s experienced renaissance.  Our community has decided to rebrand El Paso from a place that expects mediocrity to a community on a quest for excellence.  Ten accomplishments over the last decade are the following: 

·         *  establishment of the Texas Tech Paul Foster School of Medicine;

·         *  creation of the Medical Center of the Americas;

·        *   UTEP’s strides toward tier one status;

·         *  the opening of the largest inland desalination plant in the world;

·         *  tremendous transportation strides (i.e., completion of the loop, introduction of the Rapid  

         Transit System, reintroduction of the trolleys);

·         *  over $250 million of public and private investment in downtown;

·         *  creation of first-class signature downtown festivals (i.e., Plaza Classic Film Fest, Neon Desert, Chalk the Block);

·         *  the building of The El Paso Children's Hospital;

·         *  creation of the Texas Tech Gayle Hunt School of Nursing;

·         *  unprecedented investment at Ft. Bliss; and

·         *  the reopening of the Plaza Theatre;

"It’s fair to say that no project above – alone and on its own – is responsible for El Paso’s renewed resurgence.  But, collectively, there is no doubt that they are responsible for the optimism that exists in our community today. 

"On Tuesday, we have the chance to add to the list above and continue El Paso’s march to greatness.  To be clear, Triple A baseball is not the magic ladder to El Paso’s prosperity, but it is an additional step on that ladder that gets us closer to the community that we deserve. 

"The local naysayers have been vocal – just like they were during the debate regarding the children’s hospital, the Plaza Theatre, and downtown revitalization.  The question is: Will the El Pasoans who believe in El Paso stand up this Tuesday at city hall to have their voices heard and support the business leadership (that is giving baseball profits to local charity!!!) and political leadership that are standing up for our community?   

"Please show up this Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. at city hall to show your support for baseball and - more importantly - for our community’s future."

-Steve

"P.S.  Also, this Monday at Cleveland Square Park [Map] from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. there will be a Play Ball Rally to support El Paso in its quest for triple a baseball."

Cat Trap Alert!

How can anyone do harm to a precious little creature and someone's beloved pet?

Sad to report that a man has made it known that he will once again be setting cat traps at his sister’s home in the 2700 block of Savannah. This mere visitor (not resident) plans to catch cats and take them to Animal Services where they will be euthanized in 3 days if feral and 6 days if “owned” (there is a collar and/or chip).  If you have an outdoors cat, know that cats have a wide-ranging territory that can cover many city blocks. If your cat fails to come home at her regular time, check Animal Services. This is also a good time to have your pet chipped if you haven’t already done so and to register that pet (and chip number) with Home Again online.

Do visit the City of El Paso’s Animal Services web site. It is new and vastly improved. It has great information. And, you will find contact information and directions. The site includes pictures of lost pets with chip id’s and information to recover your lost pet or adopt a pet. Know about the Find-a-Pet services. You can “like” Animal Services on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.  Animal Services is now a part of the City’s Environmental  Services led by our Newman Park friend, Ellen Smyth. Ellen does report that they “are working on a TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) program where we can neuter the feral and return them to the wild.  We just hired a new Vet for the shelter so things should be improving shortly.  Our shelter is so small we can't keep up with the demands.”

The El Paso Transportation Department has issued this important notification of road closures here in Central El Paso:

The public is advised that there will be three street closures in Central El Paso the week of September 10^th to allow for railroad crossing improvements.

The City of El Paso Department of Transportation (EPDoT) and Union Pacific Railroad are collaborating on this project, which is necessary for railroad crossing upgrades, such as planking improvements, intended to enhance the ride quality of the crossing. The temporary street closures are as follows:

·         The railroad crossing at Piedras Street in the Five Points area just north of the Pershing intersection will be closed for 24 hours starting at 6 p.m. on Monday, September 10, 2012;

·         The railroad crossing at Montana Avenue just east of Cotton Street will be closed for 24 hours starting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 11, 2012;

·         The railroad crossing at Yandell Drive just west of Cotton Street will be closed for 24 hours starting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, September 12, 2012.

Proper traffic control measures will be in place to direct the traveling public through this area for this period. Traffic will be detoured through nearby streets. The project schedule is a plan that may be modified due to the weather or other unforeseen events.

The idea of bringing a Little Free Library  to Newman Park is catching fire. Read more here.

Remember that the El Paso Police Department’s Traffic Safety unit will offer its free motorcycle safety course on Saturday, September 15, 2012.  The class runs from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  The class will be held at Edge Kawasaki located at 10310 Montana.  Sign up is going on now.  To sign up for the class, call the El Paso Police Department’s Traffic Safety Coordinator, Margaret Petrozza at 915.564.7352 or Edge Kawasaki at 915.593.1024.

Celebration of Our Mountains is about to get underway again. This fall festival of events that provide numerous opportunities to take you outdoors and to teach you more about the natural wonders which surround us will kick off on September 15 with the 8^th Annual Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta and three nights (September 13, 14, 15) of Bat Watch at a location just north of us on Alabama.

Learn more about local hiking, biking and other outdoor recreations at El Paso Ridgewalkers, elpasonaturally, the El Paso Hiking Group, Guadalupe Mountains National Park Meetup Group and the Las Cruces & El Paso Adventurists.  Sign up for Peak Fitness Challenge, the brainchild of Beth Nobles at Texas Heritage Trails and promoted by Don Baumgardt’s wonderful GeoBetty.com. And a big thank heavens for the Borderland Mountain Bike Association. Those dudes literally paved the way for not only mountain bikers but hikers as well.

Finally, remember that Scenic Drive is closed every Sunday morning from 6 to 11 a.m.  It’s a 4.1 mile hike from one side to the other. This walk takes in a dazzling panorama of El Paso and Juarez and a display of 500 million year old fossils! It’s a good recreational walk and can be done in an hour and a half tops.

Fall weather is cool and not windy as it is in the spring.

Vaya con Dios!

¡Hola Vecinos!© is an emailed newsletter for the people and businesses in the Newman Park neighborhood of El Paso, their friends and other interested persons. It is written and published by Jim Tolbert who takes sole responsibility for the content of the letter. To subscribe or unsubscribe, just reply to this letter or email jimhtolbert@elp.rr.com.

Please visit www.newmanpark.blogspot.com and www.elpasonaturally.blogspot.com.

The mission of the Newman Park Neighborhood Association is to improve the quality of life in the Newman Park neighborhood through care and attention to the park and surrounding areas, and to build a community network of care, watchfulness and concern for each other and our beautiful desert environment.

This is Volume 7 and Number 27 published on September 6 , 2012

Little Free Library at Newman Park?

Lee Byrd discusses a Little Free Library box created at Cinco Puntos Press. Click image to enlarge.

A recent neighborhood e-letter, ¡Hola Vecinos!©, discussed the hot national trend of Little Free Library boxes that are placed in parks, at schools and in neighborhoods where people can leave a book for someone else and pick-up a book to read. 

Newman Park Neighborhood Association board member, Jim Tolbert, asked that putting a box at Newman Park be considered at the next board meeting on September 13th. Since that meeting comes after the next City Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting, Tolbert (also a member of PRAB) asked that the Parks Department approve such a box for Newman Park. Jim will relate board member responses which have all been positive so far. 

NPNA board member, Lisa Garibay, even said that she would be happy to stock the box initially with books from her own home as well as watch over it, the quality of its contents, and its overall maintenance. "I have been super excited about the Little Free Library concept for a while," Garibay said. "Let's do this!"

Others are saying "Ditto". 

Past board member and Treasurer, Lee Byrd, sent this message: "Cinco Puntos already has a free library painted and ready to go. It would be great at the park. Lisa Lopez [the local school librarian spearheading the Free Library here in El Paso  ] brought us one and we painted it bright colors but could not quite figure out where to put it."

Newman Park?

Learn more about the Little Free Library online.  Find them and like them on Facebook. 

Newman Park from the A

Click on image to enlarge. Photo taken from atop the "A" on August 26, 2012.

Discount Pet Adoptions Today

Last week Newman Park said goodbye to their oldest neighbor: Willie Kucera. Willie passed on just weeks after he celebrated his 107^th birthday. Read the El Paso Times story about this remarkable Newmanisto; also his obituary. Willie will be buried alongside his wife in Ennis, Texas.

The City of El Paso Environmental Services Department and the Humane Society of El Paso will be offering discounted pet adoptions today (Labor Day).  Dogs and cats, four months of age or older, will be available for adoption for $60 on Monday, September 3rd. The fee includes spay/neuter services, microchip with registration, age-appropriate vaccinations and rabies certificate. Pet adoptions on the Labor Day holiday can be made the city’s Animal Shelter, 5001 Fred Wilson, and the Humane Society of El Paso, 4991 Fred Wilson. C all the Humane Society at 532-6971 for their adoption hours.

Labor Day adoption hours for the City’s animal shelter will be from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The shelter will only be open for adoptions on Labor Day. All other services will resume on Tuesday, September 4. Animal services field crews will be available on the holiday to respond to animal-related emergencies.

This Thursday, September 6, 2012, Representative Susie Byrd will host a community meeting at 7:30am at Tierra Del Sol Restaurant (4201 Alabama). Her guest speaker will be El Paso County Judge Veronica Escobar.  The County Judge will be speaking about the county budget and the proposed 5 cent property tax increase.  As a reminder, Rep. Susie Byrd holds her community meetings the first Thursday of the month at 7:30am at the Tierra Del Sol Restaurant.  For more information, contact  Judy Gutierrez  Administrative Assistant at 915.541.4416 or gutierrezmj@elpasotexas.gov.

There’s a growing national effort to make books more available in an easy, community oriented way in order to foster reading and literacy throughout the country: Little Free Library.  Local school librarian, Lisa Lopez, has already begun a little free library at Zavala Elementary.  The program works like this: wooden boxes are placed in parks or schools or homes. People bring books that they want to share to the box. They take one, leave one.  Ms. Lopez has had great success in placing these at schools and homes but would like to try a couple in parks. The parks department is a little resistant but said they might consider if they had an active neighborhood association who was willing to watch over the Little Free Library in the park. They are concerned that people might slip dirty books in the box and they are worried about vandalism.  An active neighborhood association who was willing to monitor might put them at ease.  What say you, Newman Park Neighborhood Association?

The El Paso Police Department’s Traffic Safety unit will offer its free motorcycle safety course on Saturday, September 15, 2012.  The class runs from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  The class will be held at Edge Kawasaki located at 10310 Montana.  Sign up is going on now.  To sign up for the class, call the El Paso Police Department’s Traffic Safety Coordinator, Margaret Petrozza at 915.564.7352 or Edge Kawasaki at 915.593.1024.

Finally, if you are on Facebook and want to get your creative sparks flying, check out and like Different Solutions.

Vaya con Dios!

¡Hola Vecinos!© is an emailed newsletter for the people and businesses in the Newman Park neighborhood of El Paso, their friends and other interested persons. It is written and published by Jim Tolbert who takes sole responsibility for the content of the letter. To subscribe or unsubscribe, just reply to this letter or email jimhtolbert@elp.rr.com.

Please visit www.newmanpark.blogspot.com and www.elpasonaturally.blogspot.com.

The mission of the Newman Park Neighborhood Association is to improve the quality of life in the Newman Park neighborhood through care and attention to the park and surrounding areas, and to build a community network of care, watchfulness and concern for each other and our beautiful desert environment.

This is Volume 7 and Number 26 published on September 3 , 2012