Bridge Meeting

Neighbors,

Tentatively, we would like to know who might be interested in attending a meeting on the proposed bridge changes on Tuesday, December 29, at 7:00 pm at the Depot. Would you please respond to Gwen Matthews if you can attend? Her phone is 704- 763-0465 and email is gwen2@carolina.rr.com.

We would like to have some people there who can speak for the community as well as listen to the proposed changes from Dan Mikkelson, representing the City of Salisbury.

Also, be sure to have the Jan. 5 meeting of City Council at 5:00 at City Hall on your calendar. We need to have a big crowd there.

December News

Hope this newsletter finds all of you in a festive spirit as the holidays are in full swing. Whatever your beliefs, your Ellis Street Graded School Historic District (ESGSHD) officers want to wish you a wonderful season.

This newsletter does contain very important information regarding our district. Please read on and give us input as well as your help.

Recently (Dec. 15) Gwen Matthews (co-president of ESGSHD) attended a Salisbury City Council meeting during which the future of the Ellis Street Bridge (Shober Bridge) was discussed. While this was publicized in the normal announcement of the meeting, the neighborhood was not notified of this item. (In the past, a folded piece of paper was mailed to residents announcing the meeting.)

There is a renewed effort to knock down the bridge... a bridge with historic value to the neighborhood as well as the city of Salisbury. Following the City Council meeting, Gwen asked Jack Thomson (Historic Salisbury Foundation) and Pete Hoffman (ESGSHD resident and local attorney) to work with her to develop a new plan. Additionally, Gwen and Andrea Anders (co-president of ESGSHD) sent the following letter to City Council:

Dear Council,

I was in attendance on Dec 15, 2009 when Mr. Dan Mikkelson gave his report to the Council concerning the future of Shober Bridge. I must say I was surprised by his report and have several concerns. The first and foremost objection is that as a member of Ellis St. Graded School Historic District and a property owner on N. Ellis Street I am very concerned about the Jan. 5th public hearing on this matter. With the holidays it will be difficult to get the information about the public hearing to the neighbors of this Historic Bridge.

As Co-President, along with Andrea Anders, of Ellis Street Graded School Historic District, we are asking the Council to postpone the Jan 5th meeting until the neighborhood has had an informational forum, hopefully Mr. Mikkelson would be willing to come, and present the different proposals pertaining to this neighborhood landmark. Information from Mr. Mikkelson’s report on Dec. 15, 2009 was different from information the city gave to the neighbors in 2006. We need an opportunity to study the impact on our neighborhood and our neighbors before we come to the City Council and present our concerns in a public hearing. Please grant us this opportunity to meet together as neighbors with reference to this very important matter.

Sincerely Yours;

Gwen Matthews

Andrea Anders

Co –Presidents of Ellis Street Graded School Historic District

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A prompt reply was sent by Dan Mikkelson:

Ms. Matthews,

I would be happy to meet with the neighborhood association

to explain all that I can about the bridge project. As you are aware

from my December 15 presentation to City Council, the City is being

forced to make a decision quickly. The January 5th Public Hearing has

already been advertised, so it would be appropriate for Council to

conduct the hearing; however, City Council will not necessarily make a

final decision that night.

I am available almost any time, except Sunday afternoon, December 27 and

Wednesday evening, December 30. Let me know time(s) that would work for

the association. Also, please forward my e-mail to Ms. Anders. I could

not obtain her e-mail address from the correspondence below.

Dan Mikkelson, Director

Engineering & Development Services

City of Salisbury

Phone: 704-638-5206

Fax: 704-638-8458

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Now, it is of utmost importance that we have neighbors in attendance at the City council meeting on Jan. 5, 2010. If you have any suggestions or input to the situation, please contact Gwen Matthews (gwen2@carolina.rr.com) or Pete Hoffman (attorneyhoffman@yahoo.com).

Previous designs changed the look of Ellis and Kerr Streets as well as the yards of neighbors nearest the bridge. The bridge, located directly beside the Ellis Street School (our namesake), is a major Salisbury landmark and one for which our neighborhood is known.

PLEASE make an effort to attend the Jan. 5 meeting of City Council. Notify neighbors who do not receive this newsletter. We will send a reminder to you of the meeting with any new information we are able to obtain.

Alley Cat Party

It’s the spooky season

It’ s almost Halloween...

It’s time for the

ALLEY CAT PARTY

When: Saturday evening, October 31

6:30 until the last cat goes home....

Where: In the alley (of course) off of N. Ellis and Liberty Streets

Food details:

•Neighborhood co-presidents Gwen Matthews and Andrea Anders-Bitzer will do dogs and fixings (catsup, mustard, onions.)

•Someone needs to bring chili and slaw. Let Gwen or Andrea know so we do not have tons of these two items.

•We need other foods for all the cool cats to eat--anything you want to bring to eat. Think about making this a spooktacular evening.

•What about drinks? Yep, let’s all bring something to drink. Soft or hard, bring what you want.

•What about costumes? It’s a Halloween party. Sure, feel free to wear costumes.

•Do you want to sit? Then it might be a nice idea to bring along some chairs. We hope there is a big crowd.

÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷

Don’t forget to vote---November 3

September 2009

If you missed our neighborhood gathering on Aug 23, you missed some great food and fellowship. When we have a meeting or social event, please try to come as this is an opportunity to get to know your neighbors and share your concerns about the area.

In a short meeting, we elected officers:

Co Presidents Gwen Matthews gwen2@carolina.rr.com

Andrea Anders-Bitzer Andrea.anders@earthlink.net

Secretery/Newsletter Debbie Lesley dalesley@bellsouth.net

We also selected neighbors to represent us on various Salisbury City committees:

Preservation Action Committee

• Pete Hoffman attorneyhoffman@yahoo.com

Contact person: Anne Lyles

Alternate: Roy Ratliff

SNAG (Salisbury Police Department) first Wed at 10:30

•Mike Dunham dunham2388@yahoo.com

Contact: Audrey Johnson or Diane Morhrabi

Alternate: Nancy Dunham

Historic Neighborhood Alliance second Wed at John Steel House

• Andrea Anders Andrea.anders@earthlink.net

Alternate: Diane Moghrabi

September meeting:Wed Sept 9 at 5:15 at 321 E Bank St (just this time otherwise it is at the Steele House)

Alternates on call for all committees:

Gwen Matthews, Debbie Lesley, Nancy Dunham, Diane Moghrabi, Roy Ratliff, Andrea Anders, Kimi Matthews.

What can the Ellis Street Graded School Neighborhood Association do to help you? That is up to you. Do you have concerns about things in your immediate area? Concerns about vacant homes...empty lots...noise...unseen landlords...dangerous situations....etc. Contact your officers and share your concerns.

Kathy Walters has a map of our area as well as names of homeowners. If you have concerns about a rental property and need to know the name on the owner, contact Kathy at

What is next for our new association? The Alley Cat Halloween Party on Saturday, October 31 in the alley located near the corner of Liberty and N. Ellis. Details to follow but this will be planned for after dark so children will be able to trick or treat around town. Please plan to come and eat some ‘Halloweenies!”

If you know neighbors not on the email list, please share this info with them. What a great reason to talk with each other!! Email addresses for other neighbors may be sent to Debbie Lesley at

August 2009

It is time for a gathering of

neighbors. Debbie and Pete

Hoffman have offered their yard

and home (416 W. Kerr Street)

for a covered dish picnic on

August 23, 2009 at 6:30 pm. The

Hoffmans have a good many lawn

chairs, but you may bring along

your own.

What do you need to bring?

FOOD!! Paper products, ice, and

beverages will be provided by the

Hoffmans; BYOB if you want

something a bit stronger.

While we need to eat at this event, it

will be even more important to get to

know those who live in our beautiful

district. If you are receiving this email,

would you please share the

information with neighbors. They can

receive this newsletter by contacting

Debbie Lesley at 704-637-0732 or

dalesley@bellsouth.net.

We need people to

help direct our neighborhood

organization. What would you like to

do? Help plan events? Be in charge

of our membership? Maybe you would

be a good treasurer or secretary?

Should we have block or street

captains? This will be the time to let

others know what we should do.

If you want to discuss things ahead of

time or volunteer to do something,

contact Gwen Matthews at

or at

704-763-0465.

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So, have you put the date on your

calendar yet? go ahead....get your

calendar....I will wait.....

Sunday, August 23, 2009 6:30 pm

Bring ideas and a willingness to meet

neighbors and volunteer to help get

our neighborhood organization

underway.

Just for the sake of having supplies on

hand, please RSVP to Debbie or Pete

Hoffman at either 704-633-4814 or