Coming Events
January 22 - Postal Rate Changes Coming
It will soon cost more to mail letters and postcards. Effective January 22, 2012 the US Postal Service is changing its rates for single-piece first-class mail as follows:
- Letters (1 oz) - 1-cent increase to 45 cents
- Letters additional ounces - unchanged at 20 cents
- Postcards - 3-cent increase to 32 cents
- Letters to Canada or Mexico (1 oz) - 5-cent increase to 85 cents
- Letters to other international destinations - 7-cent increase to $1.05
February 3 - Roosevelt School Event
Our neighbor, the Roosevelt School, is hosting an event on Friday, February 3 and is inviting residents to join in. At 8am in the school courtyard Roosevelt parents will be serving coffee and breakfast treats before a 15-20 minute monthly outdoor assembly, during which a positive character trait is highlighted and some kids get awards for improvement or achievement. You are invited to join the Roosevelt parents and faculty for coffee, conversation, the assembly (which starts around 8:15) and afterwards a tour led by the principal.
Neighborhood News
Board Election Results & Officers for 2012
UEA Annual Meeting
Natural History Museum Master Plan & Safe Passage Project
Historic Resources Element Task Force
Recycling Plastic Bags
Board Election Results & Officers for 2012
The election of Board members for 2012 was conducted in December by email and USPS. 96 ballots were cast, all in favor of the Nominating Committee slate with the exception of one negative vote. The 2012 Board will consist of the following nine members:
Lisa Burns
Tony Fischer
Steve Forsell
Marie-Paule Hajdu
Milt Hess
Joan Livingston
Don Olson
Beth Perry
Fred Sweeney
At our first meeting of the new year, on 6 January, the Board elected officers for 2012:
President - Milt Hess
Vice-President - Steve Forsell
Treasurer - Joan Livingston
Secretary - Marie-Paule Hajdu
UEA Annual Meeting
On November 13, 2011 we conducted the annual meeting of the Association at the Unitarian Society's Jefferson Hall. Joan Livingston, Treasurer, and Milt Hess, President, presented a short status report on the Association's finances, membership, and activities. Click here to see the meeting handout. Because there was not a quorum present we were unable to conduct the election of Board members for 2012; the election has since been conducted by mail ballot instead. Maria Fisk gave a short presentation about REEF, the Roosevelt Elementary Education Foundation, followed by a Q&A over tea and cookies.
Natural History Museum Master Plan & Safe Passage Project
The Museum of Natural History has initiated development of a Master Plan to guide the improvement and modernization of its facilities. The plan has been revised from the original draft to reduce the size of the project and to address concerns raised during its conceptual review process. The revised Plan was reviewed by the Historic Landmarks Commission and Planning Commission in a joint session on July 20.
The UEA continues its collaborative effort with the Museum, Mission Canyon Association and Riviera Association, along with adjacent institutions and property owners, to address the safety issues, especially for pedestrians, between Mission Park and Mission Canyon. To date, the Safe Passage project has convened a core group of over 20 people and has held a number of work sessions and a 'walkabout'. Numerous issues have been identified and a consensus is emerging on improvements to recommend.
The success of this effort depends on building solid support from the three neighborhood associations. Once a set of recommendations has been formulated, a presentation from the Safe Passage core group to the three Association boards will be scheduled.
Historic Resources Element Task Force
The City Council has created a task force to consider an Historic Resources Element in Plan Santa Barbara. This is of interest since so many of Santa Barbara's historic structures are in our neighborhood. Did you know that over 150 of the properties designated as candidates for historic resource status are in the Upper East? It's true.
The Historic Resources Element will consider issues such as the creation of new historic districts in the City, new design guidelines for historic properties and possible zoning incentives for historic property preservation.
UEA board members are monitoring the deliberations of this task force, and we'll keep our membership informed of developments.
Recycling Plastic Bags
The City has recently announced that clean plastic bags are now accepted in your blue recycle bin. The following types of bags are okay:
- Any plastic bag or wrapping marked with #2 or #4
- White plastic grocery sacks the stores use to bag your purchases
- Clear bags used for produce
- Santa Barbara News-Press bags
- Drycleaner bags
It's no longer necessary to take them to a grocery store or discard them in the trash.