Monday, May 4, 2009

Spring Cleaning for Cleveland



Cleveland Street is the boundary between Central Gardens and Annesdale Park. It is often the main focal point and introduction to the Annesdale Park neighborhood. In efforts to beautify the islands on the street, volunteers with the Annesdale Park Neighborhood Association raked and picked up leaves and debris then replaced them with colorful flowers and shrubs on April 5. The association used funds paid from membership dues to purchase the plantings.

There are several areas on the islands where collapsing bricks are a pedestrian hazard. The association repaired many of these or turned the patches with missing bricks into small flower gardens. Passersby stopped to express their appreciation for the improvements on the islands. The Dumas family, who live on the Central Gardens side of Cleveland, expressed their support by joining the Annesdale Park Neighborhood Association. A special thanks goes to cleanup volunteers, John and Jenny Gholson, Jeff Houts, Andrew McGill, Tom Wilemon and Cathy Winterburn for all of their hard work. The association would also like to thank everyone who paid membership dues. The money goes toward projects to improve and promote Annesdale Park.

Evelyn Elliott Sign Reappears


The Evelyn Elliott Memorial Yard of the Month sign popped up along with more than 100 blooming tulips in the front lawn of John and Jenny Gholson on April 1. The Gholsons had eagerly awaited for the tulips to emerge, but did not expect to see the sign. The sign had been missing since autumn. Its reappearance is welcome news for the Elliott family. Lew Elliott had the sign painted in memory of his mother, who was passionate about beautification efforts in Annesdale Park and loved roses, after her death in 1989.
“I’ve been putting it in worthy yards,” he said. “If it’s reappeared, I’ll go pick it up and put it where it deserves to be.”

The Annesdale Park Neighborhood Association Board of Directors had voted to purchase a new yard of the month sign in memory of Mrs. Elliott before the old one reappeared. Lew and his brother, Ronnie Elliott, are longtime residents of Annesdale Park and are the owners of Super Cycle at the corner of Harbert Avenue and Bellevue Street. Elvis Presley shopped at their store. (Check out “Elvis Memories at Super Cycle” at www.youtube.com.)