From the (new) SBNA President:
I’m a big believer in putting a new spin on established patterns. It helps unleash new energies and gives an opportunity to see things from different angles. So I was excited when our SBNA board decided to hold our June SBNA (last night, June 9th) board meeting outdoors at our Scenic Brook Park & Garden, instead of at our usual venue at a board member’s house. We accomplished our usual board topics, including things like electing our 2016 officers, talking about news on things like the Oak Hill Parkway, and discussing OHAN. But we also shared in the bounty of our Spring-heading-into-summer garden: cherry tomatoes fresh from the vine were sampled, and people went home with fresh-picked green beans, cucumbers, and jalapenos.
The outdoor venue inspired a higher-than-usual attendance from SBNA members, and many brought their children. That allowed us to see the park in action, as seven children frolicked in the garden, played tetherball, put the playground through its paces, and dreamed over snacks and drinks at the picnic tables. Seeing the vibrancy of the garden and park in contrast with the amount of work needed to take care of needed maintenance, improve the facilities, and enhance the beauty of the park generated lots of informal conversations full of ideas, inspirations and concrete plans.
There’s lots of plans big and small underway. Some will take some time, planning, and luck to happen. Others are ripe for the taking, with just a little gumption, sweat, and participation. We’re making progress: the Park & Garden and this newly launched scenicbrook.org website are two proof points, and both are templates that provide a lot of opportunity to do more. If you’re reading this and not involved yet, please join us and bring your ideas and energy. Look for events you can participate in, join the mailing list, join the neighborhood association, sign up for a garden plot, come to a board meeting, get on NextDoor, or just drop us a line.
Tony Catania
SBNA President