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| Last Sunset of 2008 |
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REFLECTIONS ON 2008
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One year ago, a little neighborhood website called MeadowbrookToday.com
popped online with a Christmas tree picture and a plea for a homeless dog.
Little did we know we were entering
Meadowbrook's most eventful year in decades.
HOLY COW - what a roller coaster ride!
The word "firestorm" comes to mind ..... |
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Joyful bonus signing parties followed by angry demonstrations
against urban gas drilling.
Frightened Carter Avenue homeowners lose their front yards to Chesapeake's
heavy-handed and questionable use of eminent domain.
The City of Fort Worth ponders the legal and political fallout
from allowing multiple high pressure, highly corrosive industrial strength gas pipelines to run alongside the Carter homes.
Gas Task Force meetings and Council meetings overrun by gas industry hired hands.
The race for District
8 Council seat heats up when the challenger Suzette Watkins gets tossed out of a Town Hall meeting.
Throw
in a mortgage meltdown, a real estate fire sale, a wildly unpredictable presidential election and a national economic crisis.
Top it off with the devastation of Galveston by Hurricane Ike and ....
What can we say but enough
already!
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MeadowbrookToday.com began with a mission to promote the good things about
our part of the City. Frankly, it's been kind
of hard to put a happy face on all the news .... Too-close-for-comfort
drilling rigs, heavy truck traffic through our streets, a potential maze of gas pipelines running across our front yards
.... As the first urban gas drilling in the nation
takes place in our little neighborhood, we have learned more than we ever wanted to know about the effects of gas production.
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MeadowbrookToday will continue to promote the postive aspects
of our area, along with accurate information on the issues that clowd our future.
Hopefully more and more residents will come to appreciate a truly independent neighborhood
website - one that is not sponsored by the City and does not require advertising dollars from Chesapeake. |
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There are so many more challenges before us .. How do we improve our struggling schools?
How do we attract new retail/restaurants/businesses?
How do we increase the safety of our neighborhoods?
How do we hold landlords accountable for their properties?
How
do we encourage responsible pet ownership?
How do we care for our elderly neighbors?
How do we get City funding
for needed infrastructure repairs?
How do we keep our streets clean?
How do we enforce code compliance?
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Here's hoping this new year is a bit tamer than the last one
but hold on tight ... 2009 could be another bumpy ride. Cheers! - Your friends
at MeadowbrookToday.com |
2008 CALENDAR
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MEADOWBROOK
LIFE
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12-2: WESLEYAN SINGERS/CHAMBER SINGERS CONCERT
7:30PM
- Texas Wesleyan University, Martin Hall
Dr. Jerome Bierschenk, director
12-2: CITY COUNCIL - FINAL COMMENTS ON GAS DRILLING ORDINANCE
7PM - City Hall, 1000 Throckmorton
St
12-5: A FESTIVAL OF LESSONS & CAROLS
7PM
- Polytechnic United Methodist Church, 1310 S. Collard St
12-7:
CITY COUNCIL - CONSIDERATION OF GAS DRILLING ORDINANCE RECOMMENDATIONS
7PM - City Hall, 1000 Throckmorton
12-16: CITY COUNCIL - OAKLAND CORNERS NEZ/GAS
SETBACK VOTE
7PM - City Hall, 1000 Throckmorton
12-19,20: FT. WORTH'S 2ND INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL
7:30pm - Texas Wesleyan University,
Martin Hall, 1309 Wesleyan Street
$5-10 suggested donation. 817-536-4969
PantaTheatre.org
12-19: FWSO-TRADITIONAL CAROLS & NUTCRACKER SUITE
EXCERPTS
6PM Fri & 4PM Sun - Van Cliburn Recital Hall, 330 E 4th St, FW. Free, Tickets required. 817-665-6000.
12-31-08: DOOR-TO-DOOR PANHANDLING .. TO GIVE OR NOT TO GIVE?
When someone knocks on your door asking for money, most of us feel guilty saying "no". Unscrupulous
con artists take advantage of our generosity especially during the holiday season. Read what the Fort Worth Police Department
has to say about this problem: What to do about Panhandling
12-16: OAKLAND LAKE PARK GRANT PROCEEDS TO ADVISORY COUNCIL!
The grant (submitted last summer by WMNA for improvements to Oakland Lake Park) made it
through the Parks Dept Neighborhood Review Committee. As one of 5 chosen from the original 16 grants, the Oakland grant
is now before the Parks Advisory Board for approval. January 28th will be the date of their official approval.
After that it will be presented to the City Council for final approval. Let's keep our fingers crossed!
URGENT MESSAGE FOR ALL MEADOWBROOK RESIDENTS
Chesapeake Energy seeks permit for Carter Avenue pipeline.
Please click here for more details.
11-22: BOOK SIGNING BY LOCAL AUTHOR KEITH
GOODMAN
2PM - Barnes and Noble, 861 NE Mall Blvd., Hurst
"The story of the Edwards family from the
drought-ridden days of the Depression Era to the present. It chronicles the vagaries of circumstance visited upon the family
members and follows them from the isolation and tranquility of the Circle E Ranch nestled beside the Salt Fork of Red River
in the Texas Panhandle to Prairie Hill, an affluent suburb of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The unexplained death of William
Edwards becomes a singular event that remains unsolved and unresolved."
Available for sale online |
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| First Place Prize Winner 2007 |
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| A Long Slow Goodbye by Jennifer Dawson |
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11-15: "BUZZWORMS IN THE BACKYARD" - CALL FOR
ENTRIES
FWCanDo makes an open call to all artists for the second annual "Buzzworms in the Backyard",
an exhibition of art "against ALL irresponsible gas drilling". $500.00 in prizes to be awarded. Jurors:
Ed and Linda Blackburn. For more info, go to FWCANDO.ORG |
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HALLOWEEN IN MEADOWBROOK
Crowds of costumed
children made their way to Stewart Turnage's "HOUSE OF HORRORS" in the 3300 block of Meadowbrook
Drive. |
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Thrills and chills were had by all as Stewart welcomed
his victims at the front gate. Tiny
princesses ran away - Superman cried - and we don't blame him! |
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Screams could be heard down the block and only the bravest
tricksters got their "treats" ...
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WMNA's "Halloween First Place"
prize went to Stewart for his efforts. We
can't wait to see what he comes up with next year!
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10-23: ORGANIC PRODUCE NOW AVAILABLE AT KROGER!
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different kinds of organic produce are now available at the Kroger store on 1050 Bridgewood Drive. Cucumbers, celery, kiwis,
green onions, cabbage, potatoes, lettuce and much more ... This trial project will run through Dec 2008 to test the
demand for organics in this area. Many of the same brands as sold at higher priced stores. Show your support
for organics in Meadowbrook and tell your neighbors, too. And when you check out, be sure to use your "Kroger Cares"
card that will support the Humane Society of North Texas. If you do not have one of these cards, you can pick up one at the
Shelter or call 817-923-6005 and leave your name, address, and phone number. A card will be sent to you shortly.
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10-08:
HOME REPAIR LOANS AVAILABLE FOR MEADOWBROOK RESIDENTS
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9-20: TRINITY RIVER TRASH BASH: Fishing for trash to keep our Trinity clean!
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| Pictures courtesy of Gigi Goesling |
8-26: ORGANIC CO-OP SEEKS NEW MEMBERS
Eastsiders who
want to increase their consumption of fruits and veggies are being urged to consider going organic. Full orders and
half orders are possible. Pickups are every other week at a home close to Lancaster and N. Edgewood Terrace. If
interested, go to www.yourhealthsource.org for more info. The local contact is Mary Elizabeth Sheehan at kentandme@mac.com.
8-19:
"PREVAIL TO GRADUATION" BACK TO SCHOOL INITIATIVE - CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
A groundbreaking program will
reach out to students who don't show up for the first day of school this year. Sponsered by Mayor
Moncrief, FWISD and local Chambers of Commerce, absentee students will be contacted through a phone bank during
Sept 3 & 4th. Visitation teams comprised of FWISD staff, City staff, and community volunteers will then personally visit
homes of these students on Sat, Sept 6 from 8:00 – 12:00. Are you willing to help with this project that
is so important to our community’s future? This program gets results! In 2007, Eastern
Hills had 378 first day no shows. In 2008 that number was down to 133. Please call
Cindy Boyd, Volunteer Manager, at 817 207-9633 or via email at CQB@CQBnonprofit.com
7-4: EASTERN HILLS INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE
Hometown America at
its best!
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6-29: NEIGHBORHOOD
ADVOCATE PUSHES FOR CLEANUP OF CENTURY INN
Mike Phipps calls for action regarding Century Inn located at 3434
E. Lancaster. The hotel has declined, requires extensive police resources and has become a haven for criminal activies.
Residents in the area who support the cleanup of Century Inn are being urged to contact Councilman Kathleen Hicks, Mayor Moncrief
and all Council members. (For a list of their email addresses, go to the "Government" page)
6-20: WMNA SEEKS $25,000 GRANT FOR OAKLAND LAKE PARK!
City grants for $25,000 are being offered to help improve our parks. The
WMNA submitted a grant application for Oakland Lake Park along with a petition signed by more
than 80 attendees at WMNA and CMNA meetings this month. Specifically, the grant requests funding for a porta-potty
and drinking fountain for each of the playgrounds, improved trash cans and repairs to the concrete walking trail and stone
cabana. The winners will be announced in late summer/early fall.
