25 Apr 09 Newsletter 2

April 25, 2009 Volume 2, Issue 3

Alabama Hill Association Newsletter

Chairman: Doug Bestle 734-2272 Vice Chair: Monem Salam 419-4148 Secretary: Larry Nicholas 647-2315 Treasurer: Jim McLeod 734-5127 Past Chairman: Richard Maneval 671-9559 MNAC Rep: Jimmy Kelsey 715-3053 AHA Area A (NW) Rep Brian Walker 671-8258 AHA Area B (NE) Rep Michael Eisenberg 734-3615 AHA Area C (SW) Rep Dean Haskins 733-2800 AHA Area D (SE) Rep Nancy Allen 922-0256 Special Interest Articles: • Neighbor Profile – The Conley’s • Highland Heights Park Update

Individual Highlights: Facebook page City Info AHA Membership Form

Next AHA Qtly Meeting is Tues May 5th, 7 PM Bloedel-Donovan

Pavilion

Next Quarterly Meeting – May 5th ! The keynote speaker at the next Alabama Hill Neighborhood Association quarterly meeting, May 5th at 7 pm in the Bloedel-Donovan Park Pavilion, will be Johnathan Shilk, City Park’s Landscape Architect. Mr. Shilk will be on hand to present some preliminary park improvement concept drawings, and is very interested in receiving comments on these designs and any additional ideas from the neighborhood. This is our chance to comment on the design and let the City know exactly what we like/dislike about the plan.

project succeed. Our show of strong attendance and support could help keep this project funded if the City has to make additional budget cuts in the future. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or to discuss the topics covered in the meeting at greater detail. Hope to see everyone at the next AHA meeting.

Brian Walker, AHA – NW Area Representative 3205 Maryland Place 360.671.8258 [email protected]

We believe it is very important to have as many neighbors attend this next quarterly meeting as possible to show the City that the neighborhood wants to see this

Park Talk

by Richard Maneval

On the north side of Derby Pond, which lies within Whatcom Falls Parks and is a section of Whatcom Creek, the Bellingham Parks Department Trail Crew has been hard at work. They have resurfaced the existing trail and are planning to continue the work toward creating a safe and wide trail so residents can pass one another and not have to walk through standing water and mud. This area over the years has also gone through a great deal of erosion and the trail has become very heavily used. At one time between the trail and Derby Pond the embankment was wide enough to have a picnic table and additional standing room for fishing. Derby has also been a very popular location for kids to fish. In fact its posted as a kids only fishing pond, but of course many people do not take notice of this. The fishing season starts Saturday, April

25th and ends Saturday, October 31st this year. This year before opening day the Whatcom Falls Trout Hatchery will be planting 300 fish. Just before Mother’s Day Sunday, May 10th they will be planting additional fish. If the past years are any indication there will probably be a very large number of kids and of course those adults who do not read the sign. DO NOT FEED THE DUCKS!! Bread and birdseed do not have the nutritional value to keep native birds healthy. They have additives which are not part of the natural diet and can cause the ducks to become sick, less resistant to disease and less able to escape predators, such as dogs. Read more about this at … . http://www.liveducks.com/bread.html << PARK TALK continued on Page 2>>

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April Recipe

Alabama Hill Association

Page 2

Fudge Brownie Cake – provided by Nancy Allen

In a small saucepan combine: • 2 sticks butter • 1 cup water • 3 heaping tablespoons cocoa powder Cook over medium heat until melted and well mixed. Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl measure: • 2 cups flour • 2 cups sugar • 2 teaspoons baking soda • 1 teaspoon salt Stir the dry ingredients to mix and add chocolate mixture. Mix well by hand. Add: • 2 beaten eggs • ½ cup milk • 2 teaspoons vanilla Mix well by hand. Pour into greased jelly roll pan (approx. 11” by 17”) and bake for 25-30 minutes at 375º or until a toothpick comes out clean.

This cake is easy to make and a real crowd-pleaser. Serves many (cut brownie-size pieces) and yet the left-over’s freeze well. Rich, but worth it for a special occasion! Frosting In same small saucepan (no need to wash it) combine: • 1 stick butter • 6 tablespoons milk • 3 heaping tablespoons cocoa powder. Cook over very low heat until well mixed – do not let it boil! Put one box of powdered sugar in a bowl, add the chocolate mixture and mix well by hand. Add: • 1 teaspoon vanilla • ½ - 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional) Mix well by hand and spread over cake while it is still slightly warm. Be prepared for compliments!

PARK TALK continued from page 1 We all love our dogs, but of course they are our responsibility, especially when it comes to their waste, also know has dog poop! For a number of years and along our trails and throughout our parks are what are called Dog Trees. These trees have black plastic bags within them, and are provided by the Public Works Department. Environmental Resources Section, Kym Fedale is the contact person - her number is 778-7970. The bags need to be disposed in a waste container, not left on the ground for someone else to pick up and they do have any special quality about them, they are a plastic bag! Now taking local ads in our newsletter $200 for the Annual issue (approx 1200) $40 for all other issues (approx 250) Business card size

MNAC News

Page 3 of 4

Meeting held 4/15/09 – Jimmy Kelsey, our Rep .

City+ Beat RECYCLE RESOURCES…. To recycle in WA state go to: http://1800recycle.wa.gov/info.html

the county web site is at: http://co.whatcom.wa.us/publicworks/ solidwaste/index.jsp local recycle centers for electronics: https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/recycle/se arch_results.aspx?ctyID=37,&wasteI D=37,&serviceID=2&typeID=r&catgI D=11&cn= The Planning Department provides weekly updates on permits and applications. Go to http://www.cob.org/cob/Pubnot.nsf There is a lot of informative video on BTV10 off of the city website. Look for the IN-FILL TOOL KIT MEETING showing on Thursdays @ PM on Ch 10 as well. Visit http://www.cob.org/services/educatio n/btv10/index.aspx

Dean Haskins has set up a Facebook page for our Association. It’s named “Alabama Hill Neighborhood Association” http://www.facebook.com

ALABAMA HILL ASSOCIATION PO Box 29902, Bellingham, 98228

PRSOT STD US Postage Paid Bellingham, WA Permit No. 122

NEXT Meeting Tues, May 5th 7:00 PM Bloedel-Donovan Pavilion Bring a neighbor & join us!

Return service requested

The Alabama Hill Association is a non - profit association open to all residents within the boundaries of “Alabama Hill”. If you are receiving this newsletter, you are a member. An annual ten-dollar donation per family is suggested, but not required. All donations are tax deductible. The monies collected are used to pay for mailings and the entrée at the annual picnic held in August. Those of you who have attended know it is a good deal! st

Meetings are held quarterly starting at 7:00 PM. (1 Tuesday - Feb, May, Aug, Nov) Come join us and meet your neighbors.

ALABAMA HILL ASSOCIATION YEARLY MEMBERSHIP – $10/FAMILY NAME:__________________________________________________E-MAIL: ________________________________ MAILING ADDRESS:______________________________________________________ ZIPCODE_______________ Home PHONE: _______________________________ Cell PHONE: _______________________________________ VOLUNTEER? ___________ ISSUES OF INTEREST: __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Make checks payable to: ALABAMA HILL ASSOCIATION PO Box 29902, Bellingham, 98228