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Newsletter of the
Normal Park Neighborhood Association
Spring 2015
www.normalpark.org
What is the NPNA?
Check out those Flowers!
The Normal Park Neighborhood Association (NPNA) of
Ypsilanti, Michigan, formed in 1989, is the oldest
neighborhood association in the City of Ypsilanti. The
mission of the NPNA is to have a positive, lasting impact
on the quality of life in the Normal Park neighborhood,
and thus the City of Ypsilanti as a whole. Through active
partnerships with other civic groups, businesses, schools,
libraries, neighbors and government, the NPNA works to
beautify the environment, protect property values,
encourage compatible businesses, reduce crime, and
foster pride in our community. NPNA covers the area
bounded by Congress Street on the south, the south side
of Washtenaw Avenue on the north, Mansfield Street on
the west, and the west side of Summit Street on the east.
All households within these boundaries are considered
members of the neighborhood association automatically.
Annual voluntary dues of $10 per household per year are
encouraged. Your dues, along with the proceeds from
our annual yard sale registrations, make it possible for the
NPNA to hold four quarterly meetings, neighborhood
informational meetings, potlucks, and the ice cream
social; print and distribute this newsletter and flyers;
support the NPNA website (www.normalpark.org); run the
annual children’s Halloween parade...and more!
We need a few volunteers to help tend the endcap flower
beds in the medians along N. Wallace and at the
intersection of N. and S. Congress. Ypsi PRIDE and
NPNA generously donate the flowers – all we need from
you is a little TLC. An hour or two is all it takes! Contact
Jessica Faul ([email protected] or 734-483-4690) if you
are interested in pitching in.
In this Newsletter
Upcoming Events
page 1-2
4th Annual Kids TRI-umph For Our Pool
page 2
News from your Neighbor
page 3
Getting in your Neighbor’s Business
page 4
Yard Sale Registration Form
page 5
Detroit Tigers Game Registration Form
page 6
Rutherford Pool Update
page 7
Real Estate Update and Calendar
page 8
The Call to Get Involved
NPNA activities are run by a small band of neighbors who
volunteer their time and effort to help make our
neighborhood vibrant. Have you been interested in
supporting an event or starting a new one? Have ideas
about how the NPNA can impact our community? Drop
the board a line by contacting Dawn Keech on
[email protected] and let us know that you’re
interested in learning more!
NPNA Upcoming Events
Ypsilanti PRIDE
Saturday, May 16 starting at 9:00 am
Ypsilanti P.R.I.D.E. (People Restoring Image and
Developing the Environment) Day is a community-wide
event intended to foster community pride and encourage
local business growth by creating a clean and welcoming
environment. It began as a class project by the 1995
graduating class of Leadership Ypsilanti, an experiential
learning program sponsored by the Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti
Regional Chamber, and is now sponsored by the A2Y
Chamber Foundation.
500-1200 volunteers spend the morning picking up litter,
painting, planting flowers and otherwise beautifying the
Ypsilanti community. After the clean-up, volunteers are
treated to lunch and entertainment at the Post-Event
Celebration.
There are sites all over town including several within
walking distance (Recreation Park, Edith Hefley Park, N.
Wallace and Westmoorland medians, and Rutherford
Pool). Information and registration on the Ann Arbor/Ypsi
Chamber of Commerce webpage:
http://business.a2ychamber.org/events/details/
ypsilanti-p-r-i-d-e-day-2015-6153
NPNA Upcoming Events (continued)
4th Annual Kids TRI-umph For Our
Pool
NPNA Annual Yard Sale
Saturday, June 6 starting at 9:00 am
Saturday, August 8 starting at 8:30 am
The NPNA Yard Sale draws people from near and far and
is a great way to get rid of clutter, meet some neighbors,
and make money. This event is the biggest fund raiser of
the year for the NPNA, helping pay for neighborhood
projects. If you’re planning on participating, help support
your neighborhood association by registering early!
Over the past 3 years, the Kids TRI-umph For Our Pool
triathlon has raised nearly $4000 for our beloved
Rutherford Pool. Let’s make this year the biggest and
best event yet!!!!
The NPNA provides newspaper ads, posts signs at the
boundaries of our neighborhood, and distributes the
neighborhood maps. Use this opportunity to get rid of a lot
of cool stuff you no longer need. There are always
hundreds of eager customers.
A $10 registration fee will get your home included on a
neighborhood map with descriptions of your items for
sale. For a $30 registration fee, you can place an ad
along the boundary of the map. (Ads do not necessarily
have to be regarding the yard sale.)
You keep all the money you make. Your registration fee
pays for the advertising and the rest goes into the NPNA
fund to help pay for neighborhood projects.
A registration form is on page 5 of this newsletter. Send
your registration form in by Friday, May 29 by mailing or
dropping it off to NPNA Yard Sale, c/o Megan Brown at
1210 Grant Street. Checks should be made payable to
NPNA. You can also sign up online on
www.normalpark.org under “ Activities.”
NPNA Annual Ice Cream Social
Wednesday, August 5 starting at 6:00 pm
Join your neighbors for the annual NPNA Ice
Cream Social in the Rose Garden behind
the Senior Center in Recreation Park. Every
August our neighborhood gathers together
for this special event to enjoy each other’s
company…and ice cream! If you are
interested in helping with the event, please
contact [email protected].
The triathlon is designed for children ages 4 through 12.
Each leg of the activity can be customized to the child’s
own abilities. For instance, kids who aren’t the strongest
swimmers, but are great runners and cyclists, can do a
lap in the shallow end of the pool but choose to run and
bike the harder 2 laps around the park. Or kids can
choose to participate in a team of 3, with each participant
picking her or his strongest area – swimming, cycling or
running.
The goals for this
event are to raise
money for the pool
and to introduce
children to the fun
of participating in a
triathlon. Because
the main focus is to
have fun while
raising money for
our pool, the event
is not timed. At the
end of the triathlon,
after snacks and
rehydration, there is a short ceremony where each child is
individually cheered for completing the triathlon and
receives some sort of memorabilia for their
accomplishment. This is a great opportunity to pull the
community together for a morning of fun exercise and
recognition of our incredible neighborhood pool.
Watch for more information and registration forms at the
pool and on the pool’s website (www.forpool.org) as the
summer gets started. But, mark Saturday, August 8th
2015 on your calendars NOW and spread the word
around town and out of town!
If you are interested in helping to organize this year’s
event or volunteering the day of the event, please contact
Amyleigh Johnson at [email protected] or on
734-904-1507.
A big THANK YOU to Ypsilanti Kiwanis Club for their
continued support. Without them, this event would not be
possible.
normal park neighborhood association
spring 2015
page 2
News from your Neighbor
Do you have information to share about a public event or activity happening in Normal Park? Submit it for inclusion in the next
newsletter. All information is welcome; however, political statements/solicitations are not published.
Ypsilanti Youth Theatre
Shared by neighbor Ellen Champagne
Ypsilanti Youth Theatre was formed to provide a quality theater experience for youth in the Ypsilanti area. The Youth
Theatre is open to all, even those who have no previous experience, and everyone who auditions is given a part. It is
only essential that participants be interested in, and enthusiastic about, theater. Our mission is to provide a theater
experience for children (ages 8-18), especially for those with limited opportunities. The YYT stages two or three
productions per year.
The YYT is hosting summer acting workshops the weeks of July 13 and July 20 (evenings 6:30 - 8:30 pm) and the
subjects will be musical theater, zombies, make-up and “no-lines” acting. In addition, auditions for the fall show will be
the last week of July and first week of August. This fall, just in time for Halloween, the YYT will be reprising “Twisted
Tales of Terror,” a horror spoof with lots of characters and comedy.
Visit www.ypsiyouththeatre.org for more information or email [email protected].
Hour Exchange Ypsilanti (hEY)
Shared by neighbor Adrianne Clarke
Hour Exchange Ypsilanti (hEY) is a time bank based on the equality of time, empowering individuals to utilize their
assets and enhance their lives, neighborhood and community. The concept is simple. Help a neighbor and earn credit for
each hour of your service. In exchange, you can spend your time credits on any of the hundreds of different services that
other members offer. The Hour Exchange empowers individuals, organizations and businesses to help each other meet
their needs cash free through one-to-one exchanges and group projects. Their activities build and strengthen our
community.

Assets: We are all assets. Every human being has something of value to contribute.

Equality: At the heart of every exchange is equality. An hour is an hour, regardless of the service. All people are
valued equally.

Reciprocity: Helping works better as a two way street. Rather than the traditional roles of "provider" and "consumer",
we ask "How can we help each other build the world we both want to live in?"

Redefining Work: Work is beyond price. Work must be redefined to include all of the activities it takes to sustain
families, neighborhoods and communities, to help democracy work and to advance social justice. This kind of work
needs to be honored.

Respect: Everyone matters. We must respect where people are in the moment, not where we hope they will be at
some future point.
Please check out our website www.hOurExchangeYpsilanti.org and our Facebook page for more information. All work
done for NPNA will also count for hours for hEY members.
normal park neighborhood association
spring 2015
page 3
Getting in your Neighbor's Business
Supporting businesses in the community in which you live
has always been an important way to ensure your
community thrives. Need a service or looking for a great
place to find that special something? Check out these
businesses owned or run by your neighbors, and keep
our community growing! (Own a business and haven’t
been featured here in the past? Contact us for a listing!)
Fineberg Wealth Management
734-230-7900 or [email protected]
www.finebergwealth.com
(Owner is Zac Fineberg on Sheridan.)
Fineberg Wealth Management is an independently owned
and operated investment advisory practice offering
comprehensive portfolio management solutions to
families throughout Michigan. Our fee-only business
structure eliminates the commission-based conflict of
interest inherent in the realm of sales-driven financial
professionals and gives us incentive to deliver solutions
that put our clients’ interests above all else. Whether you
are planning for retirement, already retired, or just
beginning to identify your long-term financial goals, we
offer you, our new neighbors in Normal Park, our
expertise and experience.
Depot Town Bike: Mobile Bicycle Repair
734-480-8390
www.depottownbike.com of facebook.com/depottownbike
(Owner is Ray Martell on Oakwood.)
Depot Town Bike is Ypsilanti's mobile, bike repair
solution. Ray Martell has been a professional, bicycle
mechanic for ten years plus, and specializes in basic
repairs, advanced tune-ups, and everything in
between. Repairs are performed with the utmost care
and speed. You can rest easy knowing that your bike will
be rolling better than new when returned, and all
service is guaranteed one hundred percent. Pick up and
drop off is standard. We are also present at the Depot
Town Farmers Market most Saturday mornings
performing and scheduling service. Give us a call
anytime.
Go! Ice Cream
www.goicecreamgo.com
(Owner is Rob Hess on Oakwood.)
Hi! My name is Rob Hess and I own and run
Go! Ice Cream, a small,
handcrafted ice cream
company that started right
here in Normal Park. My
awesome, amazing wife,
Lara Zielin, and I are
residents of Oakwood
street, and we started the
company in 2012 with the
desire to share the
inspiration that can be
found in the sweetest
things in life. We make
our ice creams in small batches, using only the highest
quality, organic and local ingredients. We are so excited
to be pedaling into our third summer, selling treats from
the back of our vintage Worksman industrial tricycle.
How does it work? Well, you can order our products
online at www.goicecreamgo.com, and we will deliver to
your door on Thursday nights between 6 - 9 pm. You can
also catch us at Rutherford Pool on select nights
throughout the summer, at the Depot Town Farmers
Market every Saturday (starting May 23) or serving ice
creams at birthday parties, graduations, weddings and
other fun events all over town. Last year we began selling
our treats at the Produce Station and Argus Farm Stop in
Ann Arbor, and we are hoping to expand to even more
locations this summer. Business is going well and
demand for our treats is high...so high, in fact, that Rob
has gone down to part-time at his UofM videography job
in order to grow our little business. Running a small
business and following our passions has taught us that
life is a sweet, sometimes ridiculous adventure, so wish
us luck and, if you see us riding by on a giant tricycle,
give us a high-five! We love Normal Park, and we love
getting to know our neighbors better through our ice
cream adventures. Here's to a sweet, satisfying summer
for us all!
Licensed Massage Therapy and Reflexology
734-217-9921
(Owner is Linda Friend on Pearl.)
Linda Friend is a certified and Licensed Massage
Therapist and Reflexologist. For Normal Park neighbors,
Linda is offering $20 off a relaxing Swedish massage,
which is regularly $60, good until July 15, 2015. (One
coupon per person.) This includes aromatherapy, hot
towels, and heated massage table. Call today for an
appointment!
normal park neighborhood association
spring 2015
page 4
NPNA Neighborhood Yard Sale
Registration Form
Saturday, June 6, 2015 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
The NPNA Yard Sale draws people from near and far and is a great way to get rid of clutter, meet some neighbors, and
make money. This event is the biggest fund raiser of the year for the NPNA, helping pay for neighborhood projects.
If you’re planning on participating, help support your neighborhood association by registering early!
The NPNA provides newspaper ads, posts signs at the boundaries of our neighborhood, and distributes the
neighborhood maps. Use this opportunity to get rid of a lot of cool stuff you no longer need.
There are always hundreds of eager customers.
A $10 registration fee will get your home included on a neighborhood map with descriptions of your items for sale.
For a $30 registration fee, you can place an business card-sized ad along the boundary of the map.
(Ads do not necessarily have to be regarding the yard sale.)
You keep all the money you make. Your registration fee pays for the advertising and the rest goes into the NPNA fund to
help pay for neighborhood projects.
Send this registration form in by Friday, May 29 by mailing or dropping it off to
NPNA Yard Sale, c/o Megan Brown at 1210 Grant Street. Checks should be made payable to NPNA.
Alternatively, visit http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0b4babab2ea57-20152 to register online.
Please complete the following so we can contact you. Only your address and item descriptions are published.
Name:
Address:
Phone Number:
Email:
Please list items you would like to have printed on the map (e.g., furniture, books, antiques, toys, miscellaneous
household items):
□
YES, please list me on the neighborhood map! ($10)
□
YES, please include my enclosed business card-sized ad! ($30)
□
YES, I am enclosing an additional $10 for NPNA dues for my household! ($10)
normal park neighborhood association
spring 2015
page 5
September 27, 2015 Tigers Baseball Game Registration form
Registration and full payment due by August 15. Make checks payable to NPNA.
Please drop off payment only on or after May 11.
Number of Game + Bus tickets ($30 each):
Number of Bus-only tickets ($16 each):
Number of Game-only tickets ($14 each):
TOTAL:
Contact Name & Address:
Email address:
Telephone:
---------------------Return the portion above to NPNA, 962 Sheridan, with payment, starting on May 11---------------------
Normal Park Neighborhood Association
invites you to a
Detroit Tigers Baseball Game!
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Game time: 1:08 pm, Tickets in Upper Reserved Section
Meet at the Senior Center at 11:30 am. Bus leaves at 11:45 am
Cost:
Game + Bus = $30/person
Bus only = $16/person
Game only = $14/person
Friends and family are welcome to accompany you. Children under 3 do not need a game ticket if they sit on a parent’s
lap. All attendees must have a bus ticket. We have 55 seats to fill on a first-come-first-serve basis. Payment (not just
verbal/written interest) reserves your seat on the bus and at the game.
We are offering this to Normal Park residents and their guests first (starting May 11, 2015). We will open up the
invitation to College Heights residents and others on June 1st.
Registration and full payment due by August 15. Make checks payable to NPNA
Submit payment (clearly marked with attached registration form) to NPNA in marked folder on porch steps at
962 Sheridan Street.
normal park neighborhood association
spring 2015
page 6
Rutherford Pool Update
Members of the Friends of Rutherford Pool board and
some pool staff have been busy meeting with community
groups and potential sponsors, and out of those meetings
a special need has been brought to our attention.
Many of you may know that we have a loaner suit
program. Public policy is that you must wear appropriate
swim wear when you are in the pool. When people show
up without the proper attire, we can offer them a loan of a
suit. When camps come to the pool we do not always
have enough to meet their needs. While meeting with
one of our community groups, we asked what might help
make it more accessible for their young kids to come, and
they stated the need for suits. Therefore, we are doing a
suit drive to help meet this need. Suits sizes would be for
young boys (aged 6-12) and young girls (aged 6-12). For
the girls' suits it would be preferable to have one piece do
so that half the suit can't be lost. If you are so inclined to
help out with the suits we can collect them at the swim
lesson sign up (April 26) or anytime the pool is open.
Important Dates:

April 26: Swim Lesson registration and sale of
Passes is from 1-3 pm at the Senior Center on
Congress Street. Please bring your calendar to
confirm dates and check or cash. Payment must be
made to secure your spot.

May 16: Ypsilanti Pride 9 am-12 pm Help spruce up
the area around the pool. Please bring gardening
tools and wheelbarrows if you have them.

May 22: First night that the pool is open 6-8 pm.

May 23, 24 and Memorial Day: We will be open the
following hours:


Open Swim: 1-5 pm

Adult Lap Swim: 5-6 pm

Family Swim: 6-8 pm
Please note that until June 1 we will be running our
pre-season hours:

Monday-Friday: 6-8 pm

Saturday-Sunday: 1-5 pm, 5-6 pm, 6-8 pm
There are no tot splashes, early morning lap swim
or noon lap swim until our full season begins on the 13th
of June.
Remember, that you can sign up for passes at last year's
rate through Memorial Day. Passes are available online
through Paypal (visit www.forpool.org), or you can
purchase with cash or check anytime we are open. Hope
to see you soon!
normal park neighborhood association
Beth Bashert is donating $50 to NPNA for each vehicle a
neighbor purchases from her and Dunning Toyota!
spring 2015
page 7
Real Estate Update
Mark your Calendar
The following homes are for sale in our
neighborhood (as of April 17, 2015):
1202 N. Congress
$64,900
309 N. Mansfield
$134,900
208 Oakwood
$149,000
For more information on our neighborhood events,
visit www.normalpark.org.

Ypsi PRIDE Day
Throughout the city, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
May 16

YSO Concert in the Park
Riverside Park, Starts at 2:00 pm
May 23

Memorial Day Parade
Starts at 9:00 am
May 25

Normal Park Neighborhood Yard Sale
Normal Park, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
June 6

The Color Run
A colorful 5K through downtown
June 27

Historic Home Tour
Starts at 12:00 pm
June 28

Independence Day Parade
July 4

Michigan Elvisfest
Riverside Park
July 10-11
Dennis Longo, an NPNA resident and area
Realtor® for more than 30 years, compiled the
above information. Please contact him at Premier
Choice Realty (300 North Huron, Ypsilanti 48197),
734-961-6600 or [email protected],
with any real estate questions.

NPNA Ice Cream Social
Senior Center, Recreation Park, 6:00 pm
Aug 5

Kids TRI-umph For Our Pool
Recreation Park, 8:30 am
Aug 8

Heritage Festival
Aug 21-23
Riverside Park, Depot Town, Frog Island and Downtown
Contact the NPNA Board

NPNA Trip to Tigers Game
Must register in advance. See page 6.
The following homes were recently sold (September
14, 2014-March 30, 2015):
1016 N. Congress
$52,000
1313 W. Cross
$215,000
1002 Grant
$196,000
1208 Grant
$140,000
201 Oakwood
$139,000
188 N. Mansfield
$143,000
246 N. Mansfield
$219,000
811 N. Mansfield
$136,000
903 Pearl
$132,000
1308 Pearl
$147,000
1213 Westmoorland $137,500
1218 Westmoorland $170,000
1302 Westmoorland $165,900
If you have questions about our neighborhood,
items you would like discussed at the next board meeting,
or information on opportunities to volunteer, please
contact us!
By telephone:
By email:
On the web:
734-985-0031
[email protected]
www.normalpark.org
2015 Board Members
President:
Vice President:
Secretary:
Treasurer:
CoPAC:
Greenscape:
New Neighbor:
Graphics and Design:
Newsletter:
Website:
Community Garden:
At-large members:
Dawn Keech
Claudia Pettit
Lorie Warren
Megan Brown
Eddie Fritz
Jenn Schaedig
Jessica Faul
Angie Moloney
Jennifer Beyer
Adrienne Meyer
Eddie Fritz
Jessica Faul
Rebecca Dunkle
Stephanie Hart
Adrianne Clark
Ann Zalek
Christine Moellering
normal park neighborhood association
Sept 27
Become a World Famous Author!
...or at least become famous in Normal Park! We are looking
for neighbors to write pieces for the NPNA Newsletter on:

Neighborly Advice (Share your expertise!)

History of the Neighborhood (Share your stories!)

Feature articles on topics that would be of interest to the
neighborhood (Share (almost) anything!)
Interested? Write us on [email protected].
About this Newsletter
Inclusion of submitted content, including advertisements, in
the NPNA newsletter does not reflect an endorsement by the
Normal Park Neighborhood Association or its Board.
spring 2015
page 8