Christian is a junior at Scecina Memorial High School.  Christian is a starting defensive end on the football team where he was instrumental in leading Scecina in the Sectional Championship game.  He is also a member of the wrestling team and enjoys weightlifting and socializing with friends and family.  Christian is an accomplished self-taught artist whose drawing have been used in many school publications.

Joseph is an eighth grader at Little Flower Catholic School.  He is an Altar Server at St. Joan of Arc church and, like his older brother Christian, enjoys sports.  He is a member of the Little Flower football and basketball teams and the Our Lady of Lourdes wrestling team.  He enjoys weightlifting with his brother, playing the guitar, and socializing with friends and family.  Joseph rarely meets a stranger he doesn’t make a friend.

Gabriella is a kindergarten at Little Flower Catholic School.  She enjoys all things pink and princess, reading and writing, puzzles, and coloring. She further enjoys swimming and running in races and socializing with other children her age.

Devon is known for his creativity, sense of humor, and adventurous nature. He plays violin with the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra program and is active in sports, most recently soccer. He has also earned several Karate belts. Devon started his own shoe-shine business a couple months ago called “Little Dude, Big Shine” and charges $3.00 a pair. He likes camping and hiking, roller coasters, and any type of project where he can use tools!  Devon is called “The Chicken Whisperer” because he is the only one in the family that can catch their chickens.

Noah is known for his generosity, gift of gab, and sweet nature. He plays cello with the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra program and has a love/hate relationship with sports. Noah likes playing video games, doing puzzles, and reading books. He loves to eat and has never met a food he doesn’t like. Noah loves animals and wants a puppy of his own. He has an excellent memory and likes to schedule and plan – so he helps the family stay on track!

Hattie is in the eighth grade at Westlane Middle School.  She plays cello in her school orchestra and is involved in the “Best Buddies” program, a program that encourages students to develop friendships with their fellow students who have intellectual or developmental disabilities.  She is also a member of “Wyldlife” (the middle school version of “Young Life”)  She is in the Indianapolis Children’s Choir.  This year she is singing in “Cantantes Angeli”.  That is the most advanced middle school ICC choir.  Last summer the choir traveled to Washington DC, Boston, and New York City and sang in the World Premier of the oratorio, “A Melancholy Beauty.”  So far this year, they have participated in the dedication of the 9/11  Project Memorial, Irish Fest, they sang with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in Circle Theater, and they sang at Dan Wheldon’s Memorial Service.  They have a full schedule this season and they will travel to Spain next summer!  Hattie is also an active member of the youth group at TAB (Tabernacle Presbyterian Church).

Maggie and Rachel attend St. Richard’s Episcopal School in the Historic Meridian Park neighborhood. Maggie enjoys swimming, softball, rock climbing, and math and science class. Rachel enjoys running, swimming, rock climbing, and going to The Children’s Museum.

The demolition of Winona Hospital represents years of work on the neighborhood’s part to find a positive use for that space. The Children’s Museum took the lead in helping better the neighborhood by proposing a viable use for the property.

The small house party is a new initiative that HMP has begun in order to give residents a smaller venue to where neighbors can socialize and get to know their neighbors.  HMP has already hosted 2 small house parties where the
Abel Trio played at the first.  HMP Board is currently looking for a host for the next house party.  Invitations to small house parties are typically given to residents of that block only.  Our goal is to keep the gathering small and intimate to encourage our neighbors to get to know on another.  If you are interested in hosting a small house party on your block, please contact a member of the board.  We will assist you with supplies, food, and logistics if necessary.

The Esplanade Apartments, located at 30th and Pennsylvania Streets, were constructed in 1912.  The apartments offered upscale townhomes and flats in an Arts and Crafts style.  The Esplanade boasts a variety of floor plans in 1-, 2- or 3-story arrangements with leaded art glass interior doors and windows and private entrances.  Also included were gas fireplaces, central steam heat, and sitting porches.  Many of the fine details survive today.

Spring:

• If your dogs are barking, take the time to comfort or quiet your pets.  Barking dogs can disturb the peace of a whole neighborhood.
• Please clean up after your dog.  Taking your dog for a daily walk is not only healthy for your dog, it is a wonderful opportunity for you to get to know your neighbors.  Remaining on good terms with your neighbor requires a little courtesy from you.  Please curb your dog.
• Many HMP residents like to keep their bedroom windows open.  Revving vehicle engines and loud music disturbs everyone’s peace.

Summer:

• One of the pleasures of older homes is the large porch that is perfect gathering places for friends and families.  When on your porch, please remember to keep your voices, music, etc., down as the night approaches.  Again, remember the neighbors that like a nice breeze at night while they sleep.
• Maintain your yard. Keep in mind that pesticides are linked to many health problems, especially for children, including, but not limited to, negatively impacting their ability to learn.  Consider it when applying lawn treatments and other pesticides in and around your home. If you are unable to maintain your yard, contact the HMPNA board.  The board may be able to put you in contact with a neighborhood teen that can assist in maintaining your yard either for a small stipend or as service hours.
• Check on residents who may not have air conditioning.  Offer to bring a fan or let them spend some time with your in your home.
• Offer to watch your neighbors’ home while they are away.  Consider allowing a neighbor to pick up your mail, newspapers, and water your plants while you are away.

Fall:

• Clean the leaves off your lawn, but not into your neighbor’s lawn.
• Clean your gutters of dead leaves to eliminate standing water and mosquito breeding grounds.
• While preparing your home for winter, do not power wash your home.  Older homes, including those in HMP, were often painted with lead-based paint.  Power washing your home knocks lead-based paint chips into your yard as well as your neighbor’s yard.  It looks bad and causes a health threat for everyone.

Winter:

• In the winter, keep your sidewalk clear of snow and ice.  Offer to clear a neighbor’s sidewalk.
• Check on your neighbors.  Many fires occur in the winter because families are using unsafe techniques to heat their homes.  HMP is not a big neighborhood with many homes.  It is up to all HMP residents to ensure the safety of our neighbors as well as protect our housing stock.  Assist a neighbor that is without heat.  Offer to take them to the utility company to seek assistance.

Tips for All Seasons:

• Pick up the trash around your home, including the alleys.  If everyone cleaned the space in and around his or her property line, it would make a huge improvement to the neighborhood.
• Get to know your neighbors.  The best way to avoid isolation and foster a sense of connectedness to the neighborhood is to be engaged with others in the neighborhood.  Introduce yourself to new neighbors and invite them to the next HMP social event.
• Bring a homebound neighbor a food gift.  This is a good way to make a well-neighbor check and assure your neighbor that others care.  Contact the HMPNA Senior Advocate coordinator Ora Triplett if you’d like to know where a homebound HMP resident lives.
• Attend one of the many HMP social events and invite a neighbor who does not usually attend.
• Practice good parking etiquette. Park your vehicle(s) in designated areas on the street or in your driveway/garage. Many HMP residents must park on the street.  Don’t park so close to another car that it is difficult for they must maneuver out of very tight spot.
• Allow your neighbor the luxury of parking in front of his or her home.  Encourage your guests to leave spaces in front of neighbors’ homes for the homeowner.

Spend some time on your front porch and meet your HMP neighbors.