North Park News

Snow Day Fun in North Park

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:34:40 GMT

Neighborhood kids came out to play after school at the field across from the Friendship House on February 11th.

North Park Neighborhood kids, teens and a few adults and a few HSU volunteers came out to play on the HSU intramural field across from the North Park Friendship House. They had snowball fights, rolled down the hill, made snow angels, took over a snow fort built by HSU students, and made real "snow cones". One new neighborhood family that just moved in 3 weeks earlier came out to join the fun to discover that they knew other kids from the neighborhood from their classes at school. The family got so excited to find other families nearby and to discover their children already knew several neighborhood kids. Everyone went home soaked and tired, but it sure was fun! Check out a few of our pictures below:

Dress Up Fun

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:13:37 GMT

This last week at the North Park Friendship House volunteers and neighborhood girls had fun playing dress up.

Kelsi, one of the North Park Friendship House volunteers, sent me an email last week asking if we could use some dress up clothes at the Friendship House, her family was moving and cleaning out things and she had found all her old dance outfits from growing up. On Thursday volunteers along with neighborhood girls played for 45 minutes trying on Kelsi's dance uniforms from over 14 years worth of dance. Every girl and volunteer was able to find something to put on and just have fun being silly and feeling like dancers, princesses, and little ballerinas. We got lots of fun photos and lots of laughs just hanging out and being silly. Hope you enjoy some of our photo fun!

Friendship House Activities about to Begin Again

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:59:51 GMT

January 25th the North Park Friendship House will be kicking off a new semester of Neighborhood Activities and is excited that sometime during the Spring there will be a transition made to the new Friendship House that is being built on the corner of Hickory and Lowden.

This is an exciting time in North Park neighborhood and we have some new activities and events we will be a part of this year at the Friendship House. This semeseter we will have the opportunity to offer Junior Master Gardener program to the North park neighborhood children and teens on Thursday afternoons. This is a program where kids can learn the basics of gardening from growing roses, to cucumbers and everything in between. The class will be taught by Community Coordinator Danyel Rogers and neighbor Patri Bailey. The class will also help prepare the space for the North park Community Garden that will begin this Spring as part of the new development where the North Park Friendship House, Park and other new homes will be built in the neighborhood.

Also, this semester our neighborhood teens will be involved in a city wide teen program: Da-Cipher, which is coordinated by Robert Lilly and seeks to give teens in the Abilene community a safe place to have their voices heard on important topics as well as experience a postive environment where they can be encouraged to make good decisions, make a difference in their neighborhoods and schools and enjoy inter-racial and inter-generational friendships.

Some of our one time events will include a Parents Night Out, a Census Party, a Neighborhood Fun Run/Walk/Bike to just encourage neighbors to get outside and meet neighbors, and the highlight of the Spring activities will be a big Neighborhood Party and Open House when the new Friendship House is completed. The open house will feature some neighborhood talent, as well as games and food and a time for neighbors and those interested in the friendship house to come out and just celebrate caring in the North Park Community. We can't wait for the Friendship House to be back in full swing and see what fun 2010 brings to our neighborhood!

Dum Ditty Dum Dum Dum

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:20:34 GMT

North Park neighborhood children get a lesson in making rhythm with drums and various rhythm instruments from Danny and Vera Snook. All ages had a good time and tried out new instruments.

"This is just like being on Sesame Street, the drumming school episode", I commented. Danny and Vera Snook showed up to teaching drumming to our neighborhood children, and had all the kids sit in a circle, each person with their own instrument-which included various types of drums and rhythm instruments. Each child was given the opportunity to try out each instrument, the cow bell seemed to be a favorite, as well as the unique african instrument made of goat toe nails. We learned the names of each instrument and where each instrument came from as well as getting to learn to make simple rhythms, follow patterns, make up our own rhythms, we even got to RUMBLE, which was one of the kids favorite things because they got beat on the instruments as loudly and quickly as they desired. We learned the difference between making noise and making a rhythm and made up some rythms as a group that played all together created a new and unique song. We can't wait until Danny and Vera come back again and teach us about some new instruments and more kinds of drums. Everyone from Mya at age 2 all the way to a middle schooler, high schooler, and college students were able to participate and have a good time learning.

A Clean Sweep

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:41:45 GMT

Over 300 HSU students embarked on the NorthPark and College Heights neighborhoods on Saturday August 22nd. The students were involved with New Student Orientation at the University and participated in the 5th annual neighborhood clean up.

For the fifth year in a row HSU students were involved in helping beautify the NorthPark and College Heights neighborhoods through a partnership with the Friendship Houses. Students worked to help neighbors in each neighborhood to haul off trash to two dumpsites located in the neighborhood which were set up by the City of Abilene. Students were split up in teams of 8-10 students and were assigned various locations to go help neighbors. Some students worked with the neighborhood churches, University Baptist and NorthPark Baptist to help them haul off and clean up around their buildings, and some students helped the City with cleanup in alley ways in the college heights neighborhood and nearby, and other students were sent directly to neighbors homes where they helped with yard work, painting, picking up trash and hauling truck loads of brush and leaves, tires and other debris to the dumpsites. Students and neighbors alike enjoyed the day and getting to work together and know one another.

At the Vasquez family home where students were helping them paint, the family prepared for the students coming this week by getting some scraping and priming done and then buying paint for the students. The group was enjoying their time with the family so much they stayed 2 hours past the work time to finish painting Mr. and Mrs. Vasquez house. In return the Vasquez family ordered the group pizza and brought them drinks because the group missed their lunch break because they were so set on working.

Other groups would finish a job and come back to the friendship house and ask where they could go next to help, several neighbors called or walked over and asked for help and students were available to go over and work with them. It was great to see the HSU students and neighbors working together to help make our neighborhoods cleaner and safer. Through the neighborhood clean up our neighborhood is not just a cleaner place but our new students now living in the neighborhood on the HSU campus now feel more a part of the neighborhood.

Party Over Here!

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:55:30 GMT

NorthPark Neighborhood held its 5th Annual Neighborhood Pool Party at the HSU pool last Saturday and enjoyed a good time of swimming, eating, and getting to know new neighbors.

This past Saturday almost 70 NorthPark neighbors gathered at the HSU pool for a neighborhood swim party. Neighbors Jay and Wilma Barbian prepared briskets and smoked ham for everyone to enjoy while other neighbors brought side dishes and desserts. Len Bailey donated bread and donuts, and JD and Gene Atkins cooked beans and Mary Jo Petty made potato salad even though they couldn't attend the party, they said, "we just want to do our part". We discovered a neighbor Ann, new to coming to neighborhood events has wonderful secretary skills and showed up early to help set up, and made sure neighbors all felt welcome and got them signed in. The kids and adults had a wonderful time swimming and playing and of course eating. The best part of the party was the two neighbors new to NorthPark neighborhood who were welcomed and several senior adult neighbors who gathered all the non-swimming adults together around one table to talk, visit, learn about one another and to make the new neighbors feel welcome to the neighborhood. It was a beautiful sight to see neighbors bringing food to share with one another and being willing to pitch in to help set up and clean up, and old neighbors sitting around welcoming new neighbors. This was one of our smallest turn outs for the pool party for various reasons and because numerous families were out of town but it truly was one of the best parties we've had because it was a great neighborhood effort and fun time of fellowship! Hardin-Simmons Faculty, Staff and Students also helped contribute school supplies for the neighborhood children in attendance at the party. Each child and teen received a bag of supplies including pens, pencils, paper, notebook, folders and various other items such as crayons, rulers, erasers, etc. Thank you HSU for helping make sure our neighborhood kids have what they need to start back to school, and thank you NorthPark neighbors for preparing food and joining in the fun, and most especially for making Carol and Verna feel welcome to our neighborhood!

What is that Smell?

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:30:33 GMT

NorthPark and College Heights Friendship House kids and teens got a sneak peak at various functions and operations of the City of Abilene during the last week of July. Each day was a new VIP behind the scenes tour of how the City runs; including, the Fire Station, Water Treatment Plant, Department of Public Health, Storm Water Team, the Zoo, the airport, the Recycle Center, Library and yes even the Waste Water Treament Facility. The emphasis for the week was on how the city addresses issues of health related to individuals, our water and our environment.

"Whew, yuck, that smells horrible, what is that smell?" were the responses of most of the kids and teens from the Friendship Houses as we stepped out of the vans at the Waste Water Treatment Facilty at Buck Creek and out toward Hamby. We were getting a tour of a facility most people will never get to see in their life time, and frankly our kids didn't want to see, but we wanted the kids to be able to answer the question, "what happens when I flush the toilet, or take a shower, or run food down the sink?" and they got to see, or better yet smell first hand where that water goes.

They also got to learn about how our city recycles that water through the use of bacteria and chlorine to then use for the universities and various businesses and individuals to water their grass and plants so the water is not wasted and doesn't become a pollutant. Their favorite part of that field trip was seeing the fabulous turtles that live at the plant as well as the candy they were given by our jolly city tour guide who obviously loved his job and didn't seem phased by the kids obvious dislike for his work. Overall the week our kids got to spend participating in a mini city university was an excellent learning experience. Joy and Jayme from the City coordinated tours for us with various departments and one thing that stood out at each department with every tour guide was their excitement and love for their work.

At the Public Health Department the excitement of the nurse telling us about hygiene and immunizations was contagious as well as the fun and nutritious foods we learned to make and the pushup challenge led by one of the local city staff who runs Sears Park Recreation Center.

At the water treatment plant the fascination with the huge drums of water and the fact that our drinking water that comes out of our sink was once water in lake Ft. Phantom was new information. And we have already discussed the Waste Water Treatment tour.

We even got to tour the new library branch on Mockingbird which many of our kids have never been to, and they got excited about the great computers and the wii. The trip to the Recycle Center was eye opening as the kids saw how recycled glass can be ground up and used in your yard, and how old blue jeans can be made into rulers, and money taken out of circulation can be used for making pencils and how glass can be made so fine it looks and feels like hair...and how one diaper stays in our environment for over 650 years.

From the storm water team the most fascinating discovery about storm water for the kids was how much pollution is caused simply by run-off of dirt from new construction or peoples yards. The kids even got to perform an experiment to make mulch sleeves/buffers and see how much difference they make when used properly.

The visit to Fire Station Number 5 was fun, as we got to see where the firemen both live and work and hear stories of various rescues and fires, and from there saw the fire trucks at the airport and how they differ. The behind the scenes tour at the airport which included a trip through security and a metal detector was a first for many of the kids who have never been to an airport or never flown. However, the highlight of the airport was the escalator, apparently they are rare around here and this was a first for some.

The final day included a trip to the Taylor County Extension Office with a demonstration on rainwater collection and runoff and a tour of the zoo to see the butterfly garden followed by a behind the scenes look at the operations of the zoo. The kids were able to pet a ferret and visit a special room where animals are kept for education purposes. They also got to see the cougars which are not currently on display and enjoyed getting soaked in the rain. They got up close and personal with a rhino, white tiger and lion and got to see them eat and ask lots of questions.

WOW! we learned a lot and appreciate all the work our city staff does for us everyday to ensure we have a clean place to live, water to drink and the opportunity to stay healthy-thank you Abilene! and thank you to all the City Employees who helped our neighborhood kids and teens gain a new appreciation for what it means everytime they flush their toilet, or turn on their sink or throw away a piece of cardboard. This was an experience they will continue to learn from for years to come.

Paint, Tie Dye, Epoxy and Chocolate Turn an Ordinary Week into a lot of FUN!

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:42:58 GMT

Neighborhood teens and children from both the NorthPark and College Heights Neighborhoods spend a week at the Friendship Houses for Art Camp learning from Connecting Caring Communities talented Assistant Director, Lori Thornton; not only a great grant writer but an artist as well.

During the week of July 13-16th children and teens from both the Northpark and College Heights neighborhoods met at the Friendship Houses to learn various types of art and have a lot of fun. "When is it my time to paint, Mrs. Danyel, I love painting", said Elijah. "Man, my tie dye t-shirt did turn out awesome, " said, Emanuel. "Those are neat paper weights, what are they made out of?" said a Friendship House visitor. "I am still thinking about that chocolate butterfly we made at art camp, yum!" said Damaris.

Thanks to Lori Thornton and some help with planning from Dusty and Danyel, the two Friendship House Coordinators, and with input from Tiesha, Texas Workforce Solutions teen assistant we had four days of fun, messy chaotic, but beautiful art making. Each day a "thought for the day" was presented to the group about God and His creation and various aspects of the beauty of his creation and how God interacts in creative ways in our lives and gives us the ability to "create" as we are made in His image. Following the thought of the day the group of near 30 kids and teens was split into groups to work on various art projects for 3 hours of art fun. The projects included making edible art, with chocolate and candy molds, sculpture making, tie dye t-shirts and homemade paperweights, as well as learning about various styles of art and artists such as Impressionist, etc., and trying out some of the styles learned, to making a moveable mural that will be ready for display in the new NorthPark Friendship House when it is open. Ring, Ring, Ring, went my phone this Monday morning, after art camp was complete, "Mrs. Danyel, are we going to be doing anything fun at the Friendship House this week?" asked Josalyon, one of the neighborhood teens. She had enjoyed art camp so much she and the other kids on her street are ready to come back for more fun---this week we will have a neighborhood game day and Friendship Friday.

Baked Goods Equal Summer Camp Opportunity

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:40:12 GMT

North Park Neighborhood children and teens gather together to learn to make nutritious homemade baked goods and sale them as a way to earn money for attending summer camp at Camp of the Hills.

“Eww, yuck, you are going to put zucchini in that?”said Sophia. “Yum, those muffins sure smell good, do we get to eat them?” asked Ty. NorthPark Neighborhood children and teens got an opportunity to learn to bake nutritious homemade goodies with special help from CCC Volunteer Mary Gauldin. This past Tuesday over 15 neighborhood children and teens gathered and crowded in the kitchen taking turns making applesauce muffins with whole grain flour, banana bread, cookies with zucchini puree and flaxseed, rice krispy treats made with brown rice cereal, flaxseed and all natural peanut butter and several other goodies. The group had a blast, one of the neighborhood moms, Rachel commented that “even my oldest son came home excited telling me about all the goodies that he was getting to make and the fun at Friendship House.” While the kids got to make a bunch of nutritious baked goods, they snacked on veggies and pretzels dipped in peanut butter, and learned some basic ways of better preparing nutritious snacks such as using whole wheat products, and adding vegetable purees into baked goods. The best part was getting to sample some of their own goodies, and then having a bake sale on Wednesday and selling around $150 worth of goodies, enough to help cover the cost of 6 neighborhood children to go to Camp of the Hills this summer. I loved getting to watch them help each other, some of the kids who are not even going to get to go to camp came just to help those who are earn their money for camp. When it came time for the bake sale the children and teens took on different jobs from holding up signs for passing cars, serving lemonade outside, opening the door to the Friendship House, greeting customers, telling them about all the goodies they made, and counting the money over and over and over again (this was a favorite job to have). The experience was fun for all and the kids were able to learn some basic nutrition and baking skills as well as learn ways to show respect toward customers, basic money handling principles and learn the value of earning their own way to camp rather than purely being given a handout. I am so proud of their hard work and know their parents are as well. How often do you hear about elementary, middle school and high schoolers spending over 6 hours working in the kitchen making healthy goodies with few complaints and lots of laughs? Thanks to all of you who came over to buy goodies-Dr. Heflin, Logsdon Seminary professor even emailed to say how delicious the treats were he purchased for he and his wife.

Middle School Fun at Camp of the Hills

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 03:27:26 GMT

A group of 9 middle schoolers from the College Heights and North Park Friendship Houses got to spend a week in Marble Falls enjoying a Christian Camp specifically for inner city kids and teens.

As we were loading the cars to head to Camp of the Hills Monday morning I was wondering what it would be like, what would Mya and I do for a week with 8 boy and 1 girl middle school campers. I knew I had no responsibilities to the camp other than to get the kids there, be around in case of an emergency and get the kids home, so I wasn't sure what I was going to do to fill my time. What I discovered was an incredible place to get to just "hang out", encourage, and learn more about some of our neighborhood teens. The teens got to participate in special classes in everything from canoeing, fishing, basketball, kickball and crafts, to having worship time, getting homemade meals three times a day, swimming in the swimming hole and seeing the story of Jesus retold through drama. The teens loved on me and Mya, stopping to wave at us, just sit and chat and tell us about what they were doing that day, give Mya a smile and a hug, and smile for some great photos. I discovered that I had more opportunity to get to know the kids on a personal basis than I have even at the Friendship House because often I could talk to them one on one, and I was a familiar face in a new place that seemed to just feel comfortable for them: for a week they felt like "my" kids. I was so proud of how well they behaved, made new friends, participated, 4 of our kids were volunteers for praying before meals, and the Camp Director even told us what a great job we are doing with them, he could truly tell a difference. Though we had a few rocky moments toward the end with some tired teens and some pestering taken too far the kids had a great time, were able to get away from all technology, enjoy the great outdoors, be loved on by some great counselors and all of them received awards at the end of the week. CJ, one of our campers even received the top honor: The Servant Award, I was so proud! I learned of some new talents the kids have such as Taz's ability to sing and Devantes ability to do all kinds of flips. I can't wait to have the kids perform at our NorthPark Friendship House dedication and I can't wait to see what God does in their lives as he continues to reveal His Story in and through their lives. I also can't wait to go back with them next year for another GREAT time at Camp of the Hills.

Parent Meeting Turns to Party Planning

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:07:07 GMT

The North Park Friendship House held a mundane parent meeting to update parents about summer camp and several neighborhood moms wanted to know how they could become more involved in volunteering in the neighborhood and wanted to have some parent parties to give neighborhood adults a way to have fun and connect with one another.

"We should have a Second Chance Prom" said Stephanie, "or what about a karaoke night" said Rachel, both moms had come to the Friendship House to get paperwork and information for their children to attend summer camp in Marble Falls with other neighborhood kids and teens in North Park. Both women decided that in those few moments away from their kids while meeting with other neighborhood parents was a good opportunity to discuss planning a neighborhood event for the parents, something they could do to get out and get to know one another. "We don't ever get out and do things with the other neighborhood parents, our kids play together and we may walk across the street to chat a few minutes, but we need to get together to do things with one another" Rachel expressed. The camp meeting that was intended to last 20-30 minutes turned into an hour and a half long party planning and hang out time where moms swapped stories of funny things their children had done, fun things they would love to do as a group, and just general sharing of information about themselves. So this fall with the help of the Friendhship House, next door neighbors Stephanie and Rachel with get to help plan the first NorthPark Parents Night Out and see their dream of getting neighborhood parents together come to fruition.

A Living Legacy - Lifetime Legacies & Lunch, part 10

Fri, 22 May 2009 21:49:29 GMT

Rae Gravley concludes the series of stories from North Park.

Hardin-Simmons University and the former elementary school in the neighborhood have made and continue to make lasting contributions to the quality of life for the people living near them. One woman at the luncheon said she cried the day Ben Milam Elementary came down. Many of these North park neighbors had played or allowed their children to play on the old school ground. With so many good memories rising form the freshly broken ground, there is a healthy sense of loss coupled with the bright hope for tomorrow. And with the “planting” of this new phase of neighborhood development, there is incredible potential for more good memories to be made in the future—neighbor to neighbor and friend to friend.

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Rae Gravley volunteers as a CCC Story Chronicler. This collection of stories were gathered from a neighbor storytelling session and have been posted here, in ten parts, each Wednesday since Memorial Day.

Janette, Neighborhood Coed - Lifetime Legacies & Lunch, part 9

Fri, 22 May 2009 21:47:14 GMT

Rae Gravley's series from North Park continues with a humorous story that happened to a senior adult neighbor recently.

As the storytelling drew to a close, Janette Bradshaw shared how she had once, while strolling near the HSU tennis courts, returned a tennis ball to its owner. She said a passing gentleman commented that she’d better get moving as she would be late for class! She smiled as she told the story.

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Rae Gravley volunteers as a Story Chronicler for CCC. This collection of stories from North Park began in May and are updated here every Wednesday morning.

A Fresh Coat of Paint - Lifetime Legacies & Lunch, part 8

Fri, 22 May 2009 21:44:55 GMT

Rae Gravley's collection of North Park stories continues with Steven.

A college-aged man, Steven Nelson, stood up to tell his story. He said that he casually mentioned that he needed work to do, and the next thing he knew, Linda Carleton had him painting houses in the neighborhood—not necessarily in his favorite color because the paint was free! Gladys, the home owner called almost daily to report how happy she was to receive the work and the new paint.

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Rae Gravley volunteers as a CCC Story Chronicler. This collection of stories from North Park began in May and is updated each Wednesday.

Finding Her Place - Lifetime Legacies & Lunch, part 7

Fri, 22 May 2009 21:43:16 GMT

Rae Gravley's series from North Park continues...

A popular weekly activity sponsored by the North Park Friendship House is a women’s Bible study group. The group and the studies change as people move in and out. One woman who was invited to come says she was initially very wary of Bible study and Christians. When she finally came to the group, she sat quietly for a while and just observed. Eventually, she says she realized that not all Christians are “crazy” and that she could perhaps even “be” one and take part in the group. When she decided to be baptized, she wanted the leader of the Bible study group to baptize her. “You were the one who told me about Jesus, so you should be the one to baptize me. I want to be like you all,” she said. Now she leads a group in her home and loves the relationships she has with her neighbors.

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Rae Gravley volunteers for CCC as a Story Chronicler. This collection of stories from North Park is updated here each Wednesday morning.

What A Welcome! - Lifetime Legacies & Lunch, part 6

Fri, 22 May 2009 21:41:13 GMT

Danyel Rogers, North Park Friendship House Coordinator, likes to jog early in the morning. Even before the sun comes up, she will be on the street, giving it her best. On one such morning she surprised a mother and her children waiting at the bus stop. The kids screamed when they were face to face, without warning, with a tall bond-haired stranger. Afraid they would think she was crazy, she went by their home later in the day to introduce herself and apologize for scaring the kids. Brenda, the mom, says it was the best day of her life. At the time, she was newly divorced with three kids and lots of heartache. She says the Friendship House and her new friends gave her focus and hope and provided a safe place for her children when she needed a break. “It means the most to me,” she says. “We even got to meeting Representative Susan King at one of the CCC events, and now my daughters know that they can be anything they want to be. Opportunities the Friendship House provides open all kinds of doors for me and my children. I am part Hispanic and Indian, and we eat most of our food with our fingers, like burritos and such. However, when we were invited to the HSU dinner theater, I spent weeks preparing my children to eat with good manners and to be polite. It was the first time we had eaten with a white tablecloth and fancy dishes and got to see a real ‘Broadway’ play. We dressed up and it was a great experience. It is still a highlight for me and my children, and it was free! It was the most wonderful night.” Brenda hopes to one day be a writer and already has the books she’ll write in mind. She knows she can do it!

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Rae Gravley volunteers as CCC's Story Chronicler. This collection of stories from North Park is an ongoing series updated each Wednesday morning.

The First of Many - Lifetime Legacies & Lunch, part 5

Fri, 22 May 2009 21:37:56 GMT

Rae Gravley's series continues with a first day visitor

Patri Bailey, mother of three and the first official neighborhood visitor to the North Park Friendship House during its original open house in 2004, has been in the neighborhood for over eight years. She inherited her home from her parents and loves the quiet; she was looking for an outlet for her homeschooled children. The Friendship House provides just that. She knows her children are safe and being engaged in wholesome activities. Now quite involved with the North Park Friendship House, she writes articles for its newsletter.

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Rae Gravley volunteers as CCC's Story Chronicler. This collection of stories from North Park is added to each Wednesday morning.

Cowboy Serenade - Lifetime Legacies & Lunch, part 4

Fri, 22 May 2009 21:35:45 GMT

Rae Gravley's collection of North Park stories continues with the Cowboy Band

Several other North Park neighbors added to the luncheon storytelling. Mac and Mabel Adkins, married 63 years, had spent most of their lives in the neighborhood. Mabel had come with the J.C. White family in 1909 in a covered wagon when she was fifteen months old. She attended the North Park school and Abilene High. The Adkins’ roots run deep and strong in the neighborhood. They grew their own food, had cows, took the street car to Abilene High, and later she laundered the shirts for the members of the cowboy band. One, after a gentle complaint to the band about her 6:00AM practices, the Adkins were serenaded by the band members attired in shorts and cowboy boots. Mabel says it was and is a good life! Mac, Mabel’s quiet husband, father of their four children and grandfather of many, passed the storytelling on to others in the room. He did grin when someone told on him riding his bicycle a total of 8,000 miles—and just around the streets of the neighborhood. “And it’s not a fancy bike; it’s one that is hard to ride!” someone in the room added.

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Rae Gravley volunteers as CCC's Story Chronicler. This collection of stories from North Park is added to each Wednesday morning.

School History - Lifetime Legacies & Lunch, part 3

Fri, 22 May 2009 21:33:59 GMT

Rae Gravley's series continues in the North Park neighborhood

According to historical documents, the county school, grades one through eight, taught much more than reading, writing and arithmetic. As of 1950, the girls had won first place and the boys won second place in basketball. That year there were also winners in choral singing, music appreciation, number sense, storytelling, declamation, ready writing, spelling, softball, and track and field. American Legion awards, as well as Valedictorian, Salutatorian and Honor Boy awards were presented. At that time the school employed twenty-two teachers, two with Master’s Degrees! Eighteen classrooms were used to teach a top enrollment of 640 students. Classroom size ranged from twenty-eight to as many as fifty-one students at a time. Two additional classrooms would have helped, and they were hoping to hire two new teachers for the next fall term. North Park Elementary eventually became incorporated into Abilene Independent School District and was later named Ben Milam Elementary. Students continued their education at Abilene High School, located at that time in the Lincoln Middle School Building on North First Street.

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Rae Gravley volunteers as CCC's Story Chronicler. This collection of stories from North Park is added to each Wednesday morning.

Queen Mary Jo - Lifetime Legacies & Lunch, part 2

Fri, 22 May 2009 21:32:14 GMT

Rae Gravley's series continues with "Queen Mary Jo"

One of my favorite storytellers was Mrs. Mary Jo Brown. She grew up in the neighborhood when all the children went to the “county school”. Her daddy was on the school board and she spent many happy hours biking and skating with the girls in the neighborhood, and under the portico at the Olsen House, sitting in the backseat of a 1928 Packard Touring Car. (That’s a convertible, according to Mary Jo.) She and her girlfriends were playing “queen contestants”, and her little brother was their chauffer. They only got out of the car when a real tornado alert sent them to home and shelter.

Because Mrs. Brown showed some real entrepreneurial spirit and convinced her father’s patrons at the barber shop to vote for her, she won the real queen contest in her eighth grade year; winners were the ones who collected the most money or votes for the school. She says she felt like Cinderella, and it was the first time she was given red roses. In her telling I could see the pride and joy of being queen, even if it was just a school fundraiser.

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Rae Gravley volunteers as CCC's Story Chronicler. This collection of stories from the North Park neighborhood has added stories each Wednesday morning.

Lifetime Legacies & Lunch I

Fri, 22 May 2009 21:28:58 GMT

Rae Gravley introduces a series of stories from the North Park neighborhood.

I was recently invited to lunch at the North Park Friendship House on Hickory Street, after the groundbreaking ceremony for Connecting Caring Communities’ newest project—a new Friendship House, a neighborhood park and playground and a community of ten houses, all on the old site of the North Park County School, later renamed Ben Milam Elementary School. The cool breezy weather and sweetly singing birds provided a perfect morning for honoring the hard work of so many. Just down the street at the current North Park Friendship House more than fifty friends and neighbors gathered to enjoy way too much home-cooked and baked food and to reminisce by telling stories about life in the old neighborhood.

Many of those in attendance had lived all or most of their lives in the very same neighborhood. Many inherited homes from parents or returned to take care of elderly parents and loved the quiet, yet open neighborhood just north of Hardin-Simmons University. Many of those present were connected in some way with the HSU Cowboy Band, the old Olsen House now being repurposed, and with former and present students of HSU. Many had wonderful memories of the old days when North Park County School and later Milam Elementary School was the hub of the neighborhood. Sitting quietly, writing as fast as I could, I listened to the stories of the lives of the people present and realized I was in a special place, an almost sacred setting. They talked of baptism and Bible studies, but I wasn’t thinking about that at all. I was thinking that where two or more are gathered, there will be stories to tell!

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Rae Gravley volunteers as the CCC Story Chronicler. The Lifetime Legacies & Lunch series will add a new story each week telling the stories of the North Park neighborhood and its residents.

North Park Newsletter Completed

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:00:56 GMT

Patri Bailey and the kids and teens in Northpark Neighborhood finished and delivered the first North Park Newsletter created at the Friendship House. The teens picked the title, "From Our Point of View".

Patri, one of North Park's neighborhood moms just helped our kids and teens finish the first newsletter and HSU students walked with the kids and teens to go out in the neighborhood to go door to door handing out the newsletter on March 24th. Neighbors were excited to get their newsletters and see how our kids are giving back to the neighborhood. One neighbor, I visited with personally, David on Anson Avenue, commented how he felt like our neighborhood was really learning how to watch out for each other again, as we dropped off his newsletter, he said, "for the first time in many years I know everyone on my street", and as we stood there he visited with his neighbor from a few blocks south. Here are a few excerpts and pics from the newsletter for you to enjoy:

NEW FRIENDSHIP HOUSE

The children were asked to interview Linda Carleton on the topic of the new Friendship House.

The new friendship house is on the corner of Lowden and Hickory. The will cost several millions of dollars by the time it is done. The project will include 6 houses for sale for young couples who have never owned a home, there will also be four subsidized homes that will be provided by the city that must be applied for. We hope to further improve the neighborhood with the new expansion of Friendship House at its new and permanent site. The contractor is Bruce Higgins with Chanley Homes. The entire project is being sponsored by: Connecting Caring Communities, Hardin Simmons University and The Shelton Family Foundation. “Even before I started walking this neighborhood—even before Danyel and I started walking this neighborhood, I would look at that corner and say ‘my dream is to have a Friendship House on that lot’ and I never even really believed that it was a dream, so it’s been really exciting to see how God has brought us one step at a time to making this dream a reality. I still don’t even believe it; I’ll believe it when Danyel moves in.” said Linda Carleton. The new friendship house will hopefully be completed the summer of 2009.

—interview conducted by FH children, article written by Shelby Bailey and Gabby Gamboa

"DID YOU KNOW" Section from the Kids:

· That human thigh bones are stronger than concrete.

-Gabby

· Babies aren’t born with knee caps, they don’t get them until they are 2 yrs old.

-Gabby

· Nintendo Game Boy was the most successful game system ever with more than 100 million units sold world wide.

-Elijah

· In the old days footballs were made out of pig skins.

-Elijah

· In the book, “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” all four children that went into the wardrobe became kings and queens of Narnia.

-Damaris

· The almond is a member of the peach family.

-Tanner

North Park Neighborhood Teens and Children Create Newsletter

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:51:07 GMT

Patri Bailey, a neighborhood parent is working to help teach our neighborhood children and teens how to do interviews, write articles, take pictures, and design and develop a newsletter for the North Park Neighborhood.

Three weeks ago, Patri Bailey began working at the North Park Friendship House to teach neighborhood Children and Teens about creating a neighborhood newsletter. Each Tuesday Patri comes after school with her three children and is helping coordinate the Children and Teens by assigning them to groups with 2 college leaders one neighborhood teen leader and three to four elementary children. Each group is given an assignment to complete to help put together the neighborhood newsletter. As an entire group the kids got the opportunity to interview Linda Carleton, CCC Board Member, about the North Park Neighborhood Development. They have also been running around taking pictures of various neighborhood activities, collecting funny jokes, and creating art work all to be included in the first edition of the North Park Neighborhood newsletter created by Friendship House children. The kids are really starting to understand the idea, many of them didn't even know what a newsletter was when we started, but with Patri's patience, passion and guidance they are starting to slowly understand how to be more aware of the happenings in their neighborhood, and collect information to include in the neighborhood and see how they can make a difference in their neighborhood no matter how young. We can't wait for the first edition of the newsletter to come out next month!

North Park Friendship House Kicks Off Semester with a PJ Party

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:48:32 GMT

On January 5 the Northpark Friendship House hosted a PJ party for the neighborhood. There was an abundance of food and information to get the semester started off right.

On January 5 five parents and nine kids attended the PJ party hosted at the Northpark Friendship House. Those in attendance enjoyed an abundance of waffles, sausage, eggs, fruit, and juice. After the meal, the parents were informed of upcoming events and plans for this semester. The parents were also asked to provide input concerning family and teen activities that would be beneficial to them. While the parents were meeting, the kids had a project of their own to work on. The kids were able to decorate paper bags and then chose from a variety of breakfast foods to put in the bag. The bags were a little treat that the kids could have for breakfast on their first day back to school. The PJ party was a success and everyone had fun!

by Sara Darden

The Fall Semester Tumbles to an End

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:44:18 GMT

Friendship House volunteers and neighbors have an end-of-the-semester party at the Gymnastic Sport Center.

On Sunday, December 7, the Friendship House volunteers and neighbors got together for an end-of-the-semester party. The party was at Gymnastic Sports Center. There were foam pits, trampolines, bars, and beams. The party took place from 3:30 to 5:30. The volunteers and kids ran around and played on the equipment. The kids however, were not the only ones playing. While the parents did visit and talk, they were out in the gym playing just as hard as the kids. It was a blast! Everyone seemed to enjoy it.

Friendship House Youth Earn Christmas Money

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:42:50 GMT

The youth at the Northpark Friendship House did some manual labor to earn money to buy gifts for friends and family.

Lange Hall, a dorm at Hardin Simmons University, donated money to the Friendship House. It was decided that the money would be given to the members of the Youth Club, but they would have to work for it. On Monday, December 1^st, the Youth Club raked leaves at a house in the neighborhood. They worked hard for an hour that afternoon to earn the money. The money was given to the youth on Friday, December 5. That afternoon, several volunteers and the dorm director from Lange took the youth to WalMart to help them chose gifts. The youth had to buy a gift for someone; they were not allowed to keep the money for themselves. The trip was successful and the youth now have at least part of their Christmas shopping completed.

North Park Friendship House Holds Fall Festival

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:42:27 GMT

On October 31, 2008, the North Park Friendship House held a fall festival. There were numerous activities and treats that both children and adults could enjoy!

The North Park Friendship House’s Youth Club decided that they wanted to host an activity that would unite the neighborhood. They decided that hosting a fall festival would be a great way to get the neighbors together. The youth and the volunteers from the youth club worked for several weeks to plan this event. Some constructed a “fishing” and a dart throwing booth, while others made signs for each booth. Activities included an air-castle, a cake walk, a “fishing” booth, dart throwing, a picture booth, face painting, cookie decorating, balloon animals, and a three-legged race. The six white horses from Hardin Simmons came out and gave the children, and some volunteers, a ride. Volunteers from Hardin Simmons came out to help man the booths. Many families from the neighborhood enjoyed the opportunity to mingle with neighbors and students. The delicious food, activities, children, and volunteers helped to make the Fall Festival a tremendous success.

By Sara Darden and Danyel Rogers

HSU Freshmen Lend a Helping Hand

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:38:44 GMT

On September 18, a freshmen class from Hardin Simmons University came to the North Park Friendship House. They assisted with decorating and cooking for the neighborhood lunch. A few students also worked on landscaping for a neighbor.

Hardin Simmons University offers a Student Success Seminar to help freshmen adjust to college life. The seminar aims to teach the students good study techniques and habits as well as provide them with life skills. This year, the professors wanted to incorporate community service into their curriculum. They felt that the students should learn to work together to help a community. The professors hope that by instilling a sense of community into these freshmen, the future communities of these students will benefit. The professors chose the North Park Friendship House as the place to carry out their community service. A neighborhood lunch is served bi-monthly at the House and the students were able to assist with the lunch. Several students prepared a casserole and cookies, while others assisted in decorating the House for the lunch. Several more aided a neighbor by landscaping. This experience and the seminar will hopefully encourage these students to be active in their own communities after college.

By: Sara Darden

Friendship House Temporary Move

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:23:48 GMT

North Park Friendship House moves to 2601 Hickory St Until the completion of our upcoming new Friendship House on Lowden Street in North Park, the North Park Friendship House will be temporarily housed at 2601 Hickory Street. For the past four years, Danyel & Brandon Rogers have lived in the North Park Friendship House, sponsored by Hardin-Simmons University. Due to property changes at the current location, operations for the Friendship House have temporarily moved across the street to another location. The same activities and relationship-building ventures will still occur through the new location as we anticipate the opening of the new North Park Friendship House this winter. The Friendship House will be located at 2601 Hickory Street until the new house opens.

Lighting up the Neighborhood

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:07:28 GMT

CCC receives Rockwell Collins Green Communities Grant to put energy efficient light bulbs into the Friendship House Neighborhoods. Connecting Caring Communities received a grant from Rockwell Collins, an international aviation and aeronautics company with a local Abilene office at Dyess Air force Base, which provided energy efficient light bulbs for families in both the Northpark and College Heights neighborhoods. With the money received 1400 lightbulbs were distributed to 130 homes throughout the neighborhoods. To help with the distribution 35 students from ACU Impulse Camp came and helped sign up neighbors and pass out and install light bulbs, as well as 8 adults and 4 Rockwell Collins Employees. One of our neighbors who was already using the light bulbs in her home told the students how much she loved them and how they were saving her $10 a month on her electricity bill. This grant allows people in our neighborhood to have light bulbs that will last longer, be more efficient and save them money on their electric bill, and are more environmentally friendly-a definite plus for everyone. Thank you Rockwell Collins, and to all those who helped deliver and install light bulbs for our neighbors. It truly is amazing how something as simple as a light bulb can truly make a difference in someones life.

Northpark Back to School Pool Party

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:53:06 GMT

Northpark Neighbors enjoy swimming, eating, fellowshipping with neighbors and getting free school supplies on Friday, August 8th. We had our 4th annual Northpark Neighborhood Back to School Pool Party and BBQ. The party was held on Friday August 8th at the Hardin-Simmons Pool. Neighbors enjoyed a BBQ dinner provided by Isaiah 58 ministries, and it was wonderful! We had a little over 100 neighbors in attendance and gave out almost 70 bags of school supplies for children preschool through High school. The families enjoyed time just meeting new neighbors, fellowshipping with friends, swimming and eating as well as getting school supplies donated by Hardin-Simmons University, including free t-shirts for all the kids donated by the HSU alumni office and Horizon camps. We hope to keep this pool party an annual tradition. Some of our families showed up almost an hour early, they were so eager to swim and eat

Summer Activities About to Begin

Mon, 19 May 2008 11:08:39 GMT

Northpark and College Heights Friendship Houses join together for summer camps. During June, July and August the children and teens from the Northpark and College Heights Friendship Houses will get to experience summer camps together. During June the group will have a "City University" sponsored by the City of Abilene in which our kids and teens will get a behind the scenes look at how the city operates. Each day the group will get to tour various city offices such as the police station and fire stations and learn about what they do and ask questions. This should be a fun hands on learning experience for our kids. During July the kids will have Backyard Bible Club for a week and end the time with a fun water day. During August a group from the HSU Family Psychology class will be working with the kids on issues of peer pressure as well as learning about how to be good winners and losers and dealing with living in a competitive world. The summer will end with a big back to school bash! For more information contact Danyel Rogers at the Northpark Friendship House: 670-1257.

North Park kids dance with HSU Spurs

Mon, 12 May 2008 11:49:49 GMT

Watch video of Friendship House kids dance routine This spring, the kids at the North Park Friendship House sponsored by Hardin-Simmons University have been learning a dance routine. It's great fun, good exercise and another fantastic partnership with students from Hardin-Simmons. Watch this parent's video of one of their practice sessions right here!

Friendship House Fun Run/Walk/Bike

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:19:40 GMT

Join our Neighbors as we get outside, exercise and have fun at our first run,walk, bike event being held on Saturday April 26th at 9am. The Northpark Neighborhood will be hosting a 1mile or 5 k, run, walk bike in which the event is free for all Northpark residents and only $5 for non-residents to participate. The event will be held Saturday April 26th at 9am, registration begins at 8am. Prizes will be given not only for first place finishers in various age groups but for best costume, best decorated bike and best encourager. Everyone who participates will receive a free t-shirt and the first 50 to register will also receive a buy one get one free bowling gift card. The event is being coordinated by an ACU graduate student, Joseph and an HSU volunteer Sara. Come join us Saturday morning for fun, exercise, free stuff, snacks and fellowship. For information or to pick up a registration form call: Danyel Rogers 670-1257

Youth Plan Block Party

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:46:40 GMT

Two Northpark Neighborhood youth planned a block party for their blocks that was held last Saturday May 29th at the Northpark Friendship House This semester our Friendship House youth are doing projects of their choosing in order to give back to their community. Allie and Gabby, both 6th graders chose to throw a block party for their neighbors. With the help of two HSU volunteers, Stephanie and McKenzie they were able to get free BBQ dinner donated from Isaiah 58 ministries, plan games including a three legged race and egg race, and all the kids won great prizes. Approximately 25 neighbors attended and enjoyed the fun. The girls did a great job and were encouraged to continue finding ways to give back to their community.

Friendship House Spring Break Family Fun

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:52:32 GMT

During Spring Break the Northpark Friendship House will be visiting the zoo and Abilene State Park. The Monday and Tuesday of Spring Break our Northpark Friendship House families will be having field trips for the whole family. On Monday we are going to go to the zoo as a group of neighbors and enjoy seeing the animals and spending time together. On Tuesday we will take a short road trip out to the State Park, cook out hot dogs, go for a hike and play games. Most of the neighborhood children and youth have never been to the State Park and the Parents wanted to have something fun for their children to do over Spring Break. At our Semester Parent meeting one of our moms suggested a trip to the State park because they wanted there kids to have something to talk about when they go back to school and have a way for our families to interact together as we all get to know and care more about one another.

Rep. Susan King Visits CCC

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:45:14 GMT

Abilene's State Representative sees Friendship House first hand "How has the Friendship House benefited you?" State Representative Susan King asked the youth of the North Park Friendship House on Monday, February 11. The youth responded about new friends, relationships, mentors, fun and getting to do projects and service for others as the great things about coming to the Friendship House each week. Representative King visited with the youth and volunteers and took a tour of the North Park Friendship House to see the great work that Connecting Caring Communities is doing in our city. Youth Club member Shelby Bailey reports: A few weeks ago our state representative Susan King, visited the North Park Friendship House. I thought it was cool because she took the time out of her busy schedule to come and talk to us .She asked us about our lives, and how long we had been participating in the many activities at Friendship House. It was nice to know that the one representing our state in political decisions cares for the people she stands for. Because so many times no one cares about kids, especially someone with her power. Most of the time we’re just treated like because we’re kids we don’t matter, we don’t have opinions, and she didn’t, she cared. She got down to our level and talked to us and didn’t lecture or urge our parent’s votes, she cared. I enjoyed her visit, others may have different opinions, but this is mine, and I’m going with it.

Friendship House Activities to begin again

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:01:32 GMT

Northpark Friendship House is preparing to start up afterschool activities again when volunteers return After a good Holiday break we are anticipating getting our volunteers back and beginning after school activities again. We have a lot of fun activities this semester including Tae Kwan Do and Dance classes as well as continuing with our Reading tutors from HSU. Our activities will begin again February 4th. We will have a parent meeting on January 28th at 6:00. Come to the meeting for your updated calendar, fellowship, and input on some family activities throughout the semester!

HSU Theater Department Hosts Neighbors for Christmas Play

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 17:02:28 GMT

The Hardin Simmons Theater department invited the North Park neighbors to attend their child friendly Christmas Play: "Peter and the Wolf". Approximately 40 Northpark neighbors attended the HSU play, Peter and the Wolf and enjoyed the production. It has become an annual tradition for the HSU theater department to have a child friendly play around Christmas time for the Abilene community, and each year they specially invite the Northpark neighbors to attend for free. Thanks!

Family Night Fun

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:46:43 GMT

The NorthPark Friendship House Hosted a Family Night to end the Semester. We had over 40 neighbors and volunteers attend. To end the semester the North Park Friendship House always tries to have a family friendly outing for the families who have participated in after school activities. This semester we took the kids, their families and the volunteers to the Gymnastic Sports Center. The families had a blast! Some of the parents enjoyed the foam pits and trampolines just as much as the kids. The volunteers enjoyed the time with the kids before the Christmas break and enjoyed meeting the children's parents.

HSU Girls Basketball team to come to Friendship House

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:18:45 GMT

The girls basketball team will be doing activities with the North Park neighborhood kids at the Friendship House as part of the Exercise and Nutrition class this Thursday- October 25th The kids and volunteers have been enjoying the Exercise and Nutrition class offered on Thursday afternoons at the Friendship House. We have had Tae Kwan Do classes, had Physical Therapy students teach fun exercises, learned about the nutrition of various fruits and vegetables, and in the Spring will have dance classes for the kids. Its a fun way to help our children stay active, learn about basic nutrition and explore different activities they may have never tried.

Back to School Swim Party

Sun, 16 Sep 2007 00:35:29 GMT

The North Park Back to School Swim Party was a big splash! We had over 100 neighbors in attendance. Isaiah 58 Ministries provided a free BBQ dinner with all the fixings, and Hardin-Simmons faculty and staff pulled together and gave school supplies to fill 40 bags for everyone.