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Friends often call me the “crazy cat lady.” At first glance, my home is a refuge of cats roaming the property. It’s been assumed I prefer company in critters rather than in the Homo sapien kind. On the contrary, I’m slightly allergic to cats and have pretty good people skills.
At times, my house is an odd sight for me!
It can be a feline frat party of cats swinging from rafters of trees and strutting cat-walks along
the split-rail fence.
Desp i te how it may look,
these cats weren’t born into a life of domestic easiness. They’re stray cats, also termed
“feral" cats, who are generally unfamiliar with close human contact. Sometimes, they are even abandoned house-broken cats.
To add a little commentary to their situation, some lovingly
call them “hobo kitties,” but sadly the number of cats in need of a place to call home is becoming more prevalent.
Commonly, these feral cats end up in shelters and don’t get adopted. Either they’re not young or cute enough for a YouTube debut or too wild and feral to be a cuddle buddy.
These aren’t the cutie kitties whose image is
hot-ironed onto a cotton sweater adorned with faux flowers and fabric paint. These aren’t the fancy sophisticated cats advertised on feline food brands either.
November / December 2015
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Tis the season for holiday cheer. Friends, families and festivities are welcomed into our home while vexations with troublesome relatives are set aside. But there is always that unwanted guest, such as mistletoe.
This type of visitor is often unwanted due to its voracious appetite. Mistletoe is ambivalent company – a riveting adornment to the holiday home or a ubiquitous “parasitic pest.”
2015 Association Calendar
NovemberLWNA General Meeting, 17th
@6:30pm
DecemberCanalscape & Speed Hump
talk by City of Phoenix Streets Engineer Kerry Wilcoxon,
2nd. Time - TBA. Postcards will be mailed out with further
information.
Longview Lights Event - A winter holiday decorating event!
NEXT LWNA MEETING
When: Tuesday, Nov 17th
@ 6:30 p.m.
Place: 1059 E. Indianola Ave. (Backyard - bring a chair)
Businesses always welcome!!
Become Fond of Your Furry Neighbors - TNR Programs for Feral Cats
"These aren’t the cutie kitties whose image is hot-ironed onto a cotton sweater adorned with faux flowers and fabric paint."
Nov. 17th630pm
Next neighborhood meeting is at the home of Alex & Jenny Acevedo
1059 E. Indian School Rd.
The Wanted Yet Unwanted Holiday Guest - Mistletoe
...continued to pg. 2
...continued to pg. 4
TNR Programs for Feral Cats...pg 1
Desert Mistletoe.....................pg 1
Info on Rag Collection.............pg 3
Cash App - Donations.............pg 3
The Nitty Gritty - Message from the president.............pg 4
Know Your Neighbor...............pg 5
Community Action OfficerInfo......................................pg 7
For the fun of alliterations – there is much mistletoe misunderstanding. Typically, this “intruder” nesting in your trees’ branches is deemed folly. Many believe it to be crippling and debilitating to trees. Taking decades, only in extreme cases can a tree hosting several large mistletoe succumb to death. Otherwise, the presence of mistletoe is typically harmless. Mistletoe plays a vital role in
the rich complexity of nature. It serves as a keystone species attracting ecological richness and diversity of other desirable plants and animals.It's true mistletoe thrives off a
tree’s water and nutrients with roots tapping into the branch’s cambium layer. However, mistletoe creates its own chlorophyll classifying it as a hemi-parasite – or partially parasitic. There are more positives than
negatives. Amazingly, an abundance of mistletoe in a forest equates to
large and varied population of birds inhabiting those trees. Arizona's native mistletoe called
Phoradendron californicum or more commonly “desert mistletoe” – is the sustenance of life for the Gossamer wing butterfly caterpillars and various bird species. Our desert mistletoe makes
its home in leguminous trees and shrubs – such as mesquite, ironwood, acacia, palo verde – and is characterized by whitish berries and brittle jointed stems making it popular amongst various bird species for feeding and nesting within its dense clusters. The Phainopepla – or silky
flycatcher – is a crested songbird
of the desert; dependent on the existence of desert mistletoe. Mutually, mistletoe is dependent on birds to spread its seed via bird guano. In fact, bird “poop” is how it earned its name. Mistletoe, meaning “dung on
a twig,” comes from the early medival Anglo-Saxon language, i.e. “Old English.” It also can spread by its ability to
pop and explode its ripe berries shooting as far as 50 feet! In fact, if you sit quietly beneath a tree with mistletoe around dusk, you can hear the berries popping like popcorn. So, whether you’re smooching
beneath its dangling stems or it’s smooching off the boughs of your genial tree, mistletoe deserves appreciation for its company in home and nature. A little understanding goes a long way. Even with those hominid familial guests. Written by Nicole R.
LWNA President & ISA Certified Arborist
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"Mistletoe, meaning 'dung on a twig,' comes from the early medieval Anglo-Saxon language..."
(602) 721-3497
Call Crime Stop for non-emergency issues to have a policer dispatched or to file a
police report.
CRIME STOP (602) 262 - 6151
3
There is now an easy way to contribute money to your neighborhood association. We are a non-for-profit organization built upon neighborhood volunteers. Some of our money comes from the Blockwatch Grant, which has spending limitations. Other funds
come from...us! The new leaders of LWNA plan to solicit input and ideas on how to spend our "petty" cash. The more money we raise, the more options we have.Cash donations are still accepted.
Download “SquareCash” app to your smartphone and enter the “$cashtag” $LongviewWest to let SquareCash know where you want your funds directed. Approximately 1.5% of donated funds are taken out by Cash App since Longview West’s bank account is not a personal banking account.
Donating to Your Neighborhood
Donating Electronically!
$50.00 Panel Inspections & Tune-upELECTRICAL - HOME - SERVICES
Roger Heaster22 yrs. Master Electrician in The Valley of the Sun
Cell 602-732-8877 Ph 602-256-6571
Community = Youth TooBringing in the Rag CollectionRecently, I have been researching youth outreach options that would benefit our community. I wanted to find a way to involve youth in the community while also giving them a means of self-expression.
The non-profit group The Rag Collection works with neighborhoods wanting to bring art into their communities while also giving youth an active role to positively influencing their lives. The Rag Collection offers free art classes for junior high to high school age students. The classes are funded by the community and money can be raised through hosting adult art classes.
One adult art class with fifteen participants at $25 per person raises enough money for one free youth art class. Money can be donated to the cause as well, but funds are needed to provide for the supplies and instructor.
Longview West is looking for a location for the adult classes and youth classes. Unfortunately, the Longview Rec. Center cannot provide space since new instructors are required to wait another two years pursuant a new City of Phoenix rule.
Please lend us your suggestions! The Rag Collection may be attending the Oct. 24th GAIN event or you can learn more by going to:
www.theragcollection.org
Written by Nicole R.LWNA President
These cats are little scavenger warriors looking for a life melded with fewer conflicts – and you can help.Last year, the Arizona Humane
Society estimated 30,000 homeless cats and kittens were brought into animal shelters. Unfortunately, animal shelters don’t have the holding capacity and many cats and kittens are euthanized as a result. According to the Humane Society, the
best solution for mitigating the feral cat over-population is through a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program. Luckily, Arizona has several organizations eager to help people help felines! When my husband and I learned of
the TNR program, we struck a truce with the wild furry band of vagabonds and partnered with the Animal Defense League of Arizona (ADLA) to help these felines start off on the right foot. The process is actually quite simple.
ADLA works with several vets around the Valley. After scheduling an appointment through ADLA we borrow cat traps from one of their nearby locations. We set the traps at night baited with canned cat food and rise the next day to take them to their appointment. During their surgery, one ear is tipped to mark
them as neutered. After pick-up, we keep them overnight in a moderate temperature area until the anesthesia wears off. Generally, this happens by the following morning, which is when they can be released.In fact, the anesthesia prevents
the cats from regulating their body temperature, which is why you want to keep them not too cold or too warm.Once released back into their
stomping grounds, they quickly become happier healthier cats. Never release them away from their home. New territory leaves them defenseless. And studies have shown relocating or exterminating feral cat colonies does not eradicate the issue. ADLA notes removing cats from an
area often causes remaining cats to reproduce at an accelerated rate and other feral cats move into the vicinity aggravating territorial behaviors with spraying, yowling and fighting. All in all, you will be happy there are neutered cats around.The common “pest” problems of
roaches, crickets, rats and scorpions become nearly obsolete when you have cat company. If they don’t eat
them, they play with them to death. And cats are pretty bullet proof to scorpion stings. More often than not, their thick hair and skin keeps the scorpion stinger from penetrating.They can be great entertainment too.
The myriad of cat personalities can be like watching a soap opera amped up on caffeine. No doubt, there is a village of antics going on around the clock.
So, please, stay tuned and get that frisky friend through a TNR program. Now is the time. Kitten season begins spring time when
cats typically go into heat. There is still time to contact these organizations, which can be found under the Human Society’s Feral Cat web link at www.humansociety.org or ADLA’s web link at www.adlaz.org. You can also call ADLA at: 602-265-7729.Longview West Neighborhood
Association is working with ADLA in hopes of 85014 zip code becoming a target area for free TNR in the near future.
Written by Nicole R.LWNA President
"...removing cats from an area often causes remaining
cats to reproduce at an accelerated rate..."
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TNR Programs for Feral Cats cont.
T H E N I T T Y G R I T T Y F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T Nicole Rodriguez
G.A.I.N EVENT - The Oct. 24th GAIN event was a success! A lot of positive vibes and ideas were floating around - the goal intended. Crafts were introduced by The Rag Collection, Phoenix Police registered bikes, free raffle prizes were handed out and there was a showing of origami cranes. Wait, what? Yes, origami cranes hung from nylon lines for people to attach their community ideas onto. The cranes were crafted by neighborhood kids, Abbey and Derek Tomich. The crane mobile is where ideas written on paper cut-outs of clouds could be clipped onto the origami display. And for the Halloween themed,
there were paper ghosts for the ideas and suggestions which were dropped into a cauldron. Also, we had a chalk art option for expressing what community meant to neighbors.
Overall, with the number of community suggestions we received, the turn-out was positively impactful. We were even recognized on Twitter by Doug Mings from the Mayor’s office.
Many thanks go out to all the people who helped with the event. Thank you greatly to Jenny & Alex Acevedo for hosting the event at their home and putting a lot of leg work into organizing it. Other thanks go out to Karen Borg of the Covenant Home School Resource Center (CHSRC) in Devonshire neighborhood for generously donating funds, tables, chairs, ice chests, games, and more! Also,
thanks to Phoenix Police for registering bikes and Officer Aaron Stevens for organizing their presence. As well, thank you to Osborn School District for donating tables, Schreiner’s for donating ice, Urban Bean for donating coffee and to many other neighbors for their contributions – Victor & Dezzy Ruiz, Abby Elsener, Dana Newell, Aaron Kimberlin, Ann Cothron, Ann Hoffmann, Travis Tomich (and kids Abbey & Derek Tomich) and John McGarey – president of the Devonshire Neighborhood Association. Special guests were The Rag Collection, Arizona Defense League of Arizona, and Native American Connections.
Stay tuned for photos of the event, which will be posted on our website and the new Facebook page managed by Jenny Acevedo.
From this event, we hope to continue
1. If you could be best friends with any historical figure, who would it be?
Many of my favorite people are still living, but for historical figures it would be Mark Twain, Aldo Leopold, Edward Abbey and Ralph Waldo Emerson. We would be a gang of coolness floating down the Mississippi on a raft.
2. What’s the most inspiring thing you’ve ever seen in your neighborhood?
As a kid, it would’ve been the Goodyear blimp, but not long ago, in the heat of the summer, I saw a guy weed-eating grass from the curbline along Whitton. I asked if he was just being nice. He answered with a big “yep." and said when he gets the chance, he drives around in his pick-up and weed-eats along the roads in our neighborhood. He doesn’t know most of the neighbors he’s doing it for, but gladly does it anyway. It’s something seemingly simple, but beneficial and exudes kindness. I got out there and started doing the same in my alley. Some may say we’re enabling others to be lazy. Possibly, but kindness is contagious and good for the soul. So “why not?” I say!
3. Who’s the most overrated actor working today?
Yikes, I’m not one to ask when it comes to current pop-culture. Is it still Megan Fox? Or maybe someone of that mold?
4. Would you rather ride to work on a lion every day, or go to the moon for free with a friend of your choice?
Poor lion, no way! I'd rather go to the moon with that lion and bounce around. Hopefully, it’s the Narnia lion so I can survive to tell the tale.
5. When you were five, what did you want to be?
An astronaut and an artist. I was a kindergartner, so I was still stuck on the letter “A.” Though, I also contribute it to coming from a family of artists and science geeks. Some in-teresting facts about my family – Ani Difranco came to one of my family Thanksgiving dinners. I’m related to present day singer and musician Carrie Rodriguez, whom is my first cousin and the late Eva Garza – a beautiful Tejana singer and performer.
Know Your Neighbor: Neighborhood SpotlightAbout Nicole Rodriguezinterview by Alex Acevedo
Photo by Jenny Acevedo5
CAT COLONIES - Help with the increasing cat population - FAST!
Call (602) 265-SPAY (7729)
For more information, go to:
http://www.adlaz.org
The Animal Defense League of Arizona's Spay Neuter Hotline offers low cost
services.
BOARD
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Nicole Rodriguez
Aaron Kimberlin
Travis Tomich
Dana Newell
Traffic Calming Devices
&Canalscape Presentation
Dec. 2nd@
Longview Elem. AuditoriumTime - TBA
*Look out for postcard from City of Phoenix with additional
information
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drawing in new ideas and support for creative community building.
SPEED HUMPS - LWNA board members Travis Tomich, Dana Newell and Nicole Rodriguez met with City of Phoenix Street Transportation Engineer Kerry Wilcoxon to discuss traffic calming options, such as speed humps. Dec. 2nd, Mr. Wilcoxon will present information on traffic calming options and the Grand Canalscape at Longview Elementary School Auditorium. Postcards will be mailed out by the City of Phoenix to residents with further information such as the time of the presentation. We learned from our meeting Fairmount St. has on average over 1000 cars traveling on it a day. Idylwilde neighborhood is working with Mr. Wilcoxon on a traffic mitigating option at Fairmount St. and 12th St. in hopes of reducing the amount of traffic filtering through onto Fairmount. Also, 11th St. may receive speed humps from Idylwilde’s initiative as well. Longview West hopes to do the same on Fairmount St., Whitton Ave., and various other neighborhood streets with high traffic volumes. Fairmount and Whitton currently have speed humps, however a few more may be necessary for certain sections. It is our hopes to make our neighborhood streets safer for children, pets, and all people alike. Please consider the potential safety hazards of not including traffic calming options. Although possibly not aesthetically pleasing, speed humps are the most cost effective speed deterrent.
COUNCILWOMAN LAURA PASTOR met with community leader Nicole Rodriguez, Dana Newell, Travis Tomich and Alex Acevedo following the GAIN event to discuss long-term goals for the community, such as a possible pedestrian bridge crossing connecting the Grand Canal divide near the intersection of 16th St. & Indian School Rd. Albeit a costly endeavor, it would be a safe option in light of the expected increase in Grand Canal pedestrian traffic that is expected due to the Grand Canalscape innovation. A pedestrian bridge would provide a secure crossing and add the opportunity for functional art into the heart of the Devonshire and the Longview communities. Such a construction should be defined and designed with aesthetic architecture in mind.
Other topics discussed were:
• Canalscape Art – Longview
community and Longview Elementary School playing a role in contributing to Canalscape art and maintaining portions of the canal’s art since there is no funding for maintenance of the art.
• Longview Rec Center & Park – Discussed implementing a playground, ramadas and chess tables at Longview Park. We will have a collective meeting with the Councilwoman and Parks Department hopefully in the next few months to discuss a time-frame and feasibility for these projects. We also discussed allowing The Rag Collection to teach their free youth art classes at the Longview Rec. Center to junior high and high school age students, who are without art opportunities as they progress through their education. Art can be a therapeutic medium and a means of self-expression. We hope the Councilwoman can help make this partnership work with the Parks Department. Currently, there is a two year waiting period for new instructors wanting to apply to teach at any Parks Department facility. Although, the waiting period may be a cost saving measure for the Parks Department, it is a hindrance to community development and enrichment. In addition, it is poor public relations and marketing for community rec. centers as viable venues for community education.
• Police Helicopter Low Fly-Overs – discussed complaints from residents regarding the noise pollution from transitional low fly-overs from the PD air unit. Phoenix Police Chief, Joseph Yahner, is aware of the issue and we hope to have an educational informative presentation on the demands of the Phoenix Police air unit squad. I know some have concerns with the air unit spotlight left on during a straight line of flight over the neighborhood. This concern was also brought up.
• Other discussions were re-vising city code to restrict the height of natural barriers, such as oleander “walls,” grown on property regions adjacent to streets to abide the same city code height restrictions for fabricated walls (e.g. block and brick walls, split rails, wood fencing, etc.).
Block Watch Grant - I have made it a goal to attend a Devonshire neighborhood meeting at least every other month. I always learn new and great information from their president, John McGarey. At the most recent
meeting, I brought up the topic of Devonshire applying for a 2nd Block Watch Grant that could be applied toward an Osborn School District school. John McGarey is drafting up a grant for the new Montecito school for pre-school age students.
LWNA is applying for their 2nd Block Watch Grant to go towards Longview Elementary School’s community garden program. We hope we will receive the max of $10,000 for the initiative. For our own Block Watch Grant, some of the funds will be shared with The Rag Collection to fund the youth art classes that will be offered at no cost to interested teenagers. To learn more on The Rag Collection, please visit www.theragcollection.org OR read the newsletter for more information.
Meeting Locations – We do not have a meeting location set for January 19th or March 15th. If you are interested in hosting a meeting at your local business or home, please email [email protected]. The January meeting will have the new Mountain View Police Precinct Commander joining us as well as a speaker from Native American Connections. March 15th meeting will be early Earth Day themed with Keep Phoenix Beautiful and Phoenix Public Works Dept. coming out. We are also happy to hear your suggestions on speakers!
Upcoming Meeting – Nov. 17th – Pam Perry from Maricopa Master Gardeners will be present on their upcoming Master Gardener training beginning January 2015. Also, Phoenix Police Officer Stout will be discussing police officer recruiting. I recently spoke with the Phoenix Police Chief, Joe Yahner, regarding recruiting officers from within Phoenix. We have had complaints of officers describing our community as dirty or ugly. I believe if Phoenix can recruit more officers from Phoenix proper rather than Ahwatukee, Peoria, Glendale, Surprise, and etc. we will acquire more officers with community pride and ownership. This is not to say all non-Phoenix residing police officers do not possess community pride in the areas they patrol. In fact, our Community Action Officer (CAO), Officer Stevens is not a Phoenix resident, but he has proven himself an ideal community supporter and activist for our needs and concerns.
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Officer Stevens has served as our CAO since November 2014. He is a native from Wyoming and has been with the Phoenix Police Department for 12 yrs.
Contact and notify Officer Stevens of any recurring non-emer-gency neighborhood issues. Examples of issues neighbors have shared with him in the past have dealt with on-going issues of speeding, amplified music, and suspicious activity. Please don't hesitate.
Contact Info:EMAIL: [email protected]: (602) 361-0043
Emergencies Only Non-emergencies ~ CRIME STOP Mountain View PrecinctOfficer Aaron Stevens (CAO)[email protected] Greg StantonCouncilwoman Laura PastorNeighborhood Services LV Community CenterAbandoned VehiclesBarking DogsClogged Street DrainDead animalGraffiti BustersIllegal DumpingRoaming DogsZoning ViolationsMaricopa Co. Animal Care & ControlAnimal Cruelty/AZ Humane Society
9-1-1262-6151495-5007361-0043
262-7111262-7447262-7344534-6570262-6151262-6151262-6441262-6791495-7014262-7251506-7387262-7844506-7387997-7585
Advertise With Us!!!Contact Longview West
Newsletter Editor for rates: [email protected]
~ Help Fund Your Newsletter ~
Residents of Longview West receive reduced
advertising rates
Oficial Stevens ha servido como nuestro CAO desde noviembre de 2014. Él es oriundo de Wyoming y lleva 12 años contacto con el Departamento de policía de Phoenix.
Notificar al oficial Stevens de problemas recurrentes de barrio no es de emergencia. Ejemplos de problemas de vecinos han compartido con él en el pasado se han ocupado con cuestiones en curso de exceso de velocidad, amplificado música y actividades sospechosas. No dude.
Información de contacto:Correo electrónico: [email protected]: (602) 361-0043
Our Neighborhood Community Action Officer (CAO)
A community action officer (CAO) helps a community handle non-emergency reoccuring suspicious and crime
related activities for a particular neighborhood.
A CAO has several communities they work with at any given time and are often assigned to special events which takes them away from their CAO duties. Please be curteous to our CAO as he juggles and deals with the
many community topics and issues within his area.
3601 N. 7TH ST.
LocalPostal Customer
Longview West Neighborhood Assocation Newsletter
November / December 2015 Issue
Place: Home of Alex & Jenny Acevedo1059 E. Indianola Ave. 85014Location: Backyard - outside
~no restrooms~
P.O. Box 7734 – Phoenix, AZ 85011-7734 7th St – 12th St, OSBORN - INDIAN SCHOOL
lwna.weebly.com / [email protected]
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Guest Speakers from Maricopa Master Gardener Program and Phoenix PoliceMain Topic - Change neighborhood association name? Name vote at January 19th, 2016 meeting.
~ Hot coffee from Urban Bean and hot water for tea and hot chocolate will be available ~
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY MEETINGNOV. 17th630pm-800pm
