The Gardner 4's blog

Our next monthly SABA meeting will be held this Wednesday, March 10 at 7:30. As usual, we will meet at the house at Normandy Park.

Turnout for the meetings during the winter was low, which makes sense since it is a quiet time for SABA. Plus, the weather kept many of us hunkered down at home. Now, the snow is finally melting, flower shoots are beginning to sprout up, and we are starting to go outside because we want to, not because we have to shovel snow. This is when SABA activities begin to pick up speed and we are most in need of your energy and enthusiasm.

Here are some of the plans SABA has for Normandy Park. Your input and additional suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Our longtime volunteer, Bill Davis, died last fall. SABA would like to honor his years of contribution to the neighborhood and to Normandy Park in particular with a memorial at the park. Bill was a quiet, understated man who did a tremendous amount of work for the community without seeking the spotlight of recognition. Our plans are to install a park bench with a memorial plaque and to plant a tree near the bench. You can donate to the funds for this memorial. Simply send a check to SABA (SABA, P.O. Box 772, Ardmore, PA 19003) with "Bill Davis Memorial" on the memo line.

Steve Fischer has been investigating options for painting the house at the park. With the new roof and our ongoing landscaping and furniture improvements, painting the house seems like the logical next significant improvement that can be made to the look of the park.

As you know, SABA survives and thrives on the generosity of neighbors who volunteer their time and energy. These volunteers have created and continued our many local traditions. Without them, our neighborhood would not be the wonderful place to live that it is. Unfortunately, over the past year, we have lost a number of important volunteers and we are need of finding their replacements. These positions include:

President
Civic Council Liaison
Newsletter Coordinator (and someone to arrange the layout for printing)
Block Captains
Event coordinators and volunteers
We might also me losing our Treasurer

SABA publishes a newsletter about the events and activities of the civic association and neighborhood. This newsletter is distributed to every household in the community twice a year. Usually this occurs in the fall and spring. Last year we did not write a newsletter in time for distribution in the fall, Therefore, we are trying to write and distribute one this winter.

The content of the newsletter typically includes a review of some recent SABA events, plans for upcoming events, updates on community projects, a list of officers and key volunteers, and information for contacting and donating to SABA. Other articles or submissions are welcome.

It is with a heavy heart that I share this news with you. Many of you know Bill Davis from his very active participation in SABA. He and his family have been very involved in and committed to our community for many years. His mother was active in the Ardmore Manor Civic Association, the predecessor to SABA. Bill has served as SABA's liaison to the Haverford Township Civic Council for many years. The Civic Council is the organization that brings together all the civic associations from across the township. The issues, concerns, and goals for each neighborhood are merged into an overall vision for our township wide community. Bill has been an invaluable source of ideas, compassion, enthusiasm, and action.

The fall clean-up of the creek that runs along the SEPTA bus path and behind Chestnutwold Elementary will be on Nov 14. It will start at 1:00 and will go until about 3:30 or when the cleaning is done.

Trash bags will be provided. Please wear sturdy shoes that can get wet. You might also want to wear gloves.

This event is being organized by the Chestnutwold PTO and their Community Outreach program. SABA and the PTO often work closely together on various community events, including cleaning the creek several times a year. SABA and the PTO have been holding these events for several years. The efforts have absolutely paid off with evidence of improved water quality with increased healthy plant and animal life.

Please join us to help preserve and improve the quality of this special feature of our neighborhood.

The first SABA 5k happened yesterday and was a tremendous success!! The weather was perfect, the food and drinks were plentiful, and everyone had a great time. We had 63 participants, including about 20 people who did the 1 mile run/walk and 39 who ran the 5k race.

I have to send out a HUGE thank you to all the volunteers who made this a wonderful event. Among the many people who helped organize this event, I want to particularly thank Erica Keagy for all her ideas and tremendous effort; Alain Plante for taking care of so many details; Ken Keagy for his fantastic designs of the shirt, posters, and signs; Ed Margagee for his support and equipment; and Matt Taglang for his experience and guidance.

Megan Monek has helped set up a page for SABA on Facebook. So now you can follow us on our new Facebook page - S.A.B.A. South Ardmore Betterment Alliance. There are other pages that use the word SABA so if you search for us, use the words South Ardmore. We will be posting updates, announcements, and event information on this new page in addition to the SABA website and the emails you receive.

It seems that sometimes searching the phrase South ARdmore does not produce the SABA page so here is a link to our Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ardmore-PA/SABA-South-Ardmore-Betterment-A...

We hope you enjoy this additional source of information about your civic association and that you help us spread the word about this new development.

A neighbor has lost her new puppy TODAY 9/30! Information below.

Details:

Name: Lucky

Age: Approximately 7 months

Male – Yellow Lab mix

He has dog tags and is wearing a teal collar with turtles; his dog leash was still attached (retractable)

Contact: Christi Dunham at 610-896-2141 or 484-716-8822, 2910 Morris Ave, Ardmore, PA

This year's fall Music and Planting Event at Normandy Park is scheduled for Oct 4, starting at 9:00 am.

The focus for the planting will be on enhancing the current garden beds around the periphery of the park and around the house, removing some sections of the hedge, and beginning to establish some new beds that will be planted in the spring. The sections of hedge that will have some portions removed this year will be along Cricket Ave and Normandy Rd. This is to further improve the appearance of the park and to open more entry points, especially considering the SABA 5k is happening the following weekend and will attract people from inside and outside our neighborhood.