Light up the Eastside! Porchlights unite!

One of the most effective ways to fight crime in our community is simple:

KEEP YOUR PORCH LIGHT ON!!!!!

Imagine how bright your neighborhood would be if everyone did so.

Criminals are less likely to disrupt an area that's well-lit, so replace those bulbs that have gone out, and be sure to encourage all of your neighbors to do the exact same thing.

Our community deserves to shine in the light.

McKinley Street Festival planning meeting - May 23

The next McKinley Street Festival planning meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on May 23 at Celebration Hall, across from Fergie's on McKinley Avenue.

This year's function is shaping up to be one that everyone in our region will want to attend, especially with the integration of the Animalocity pet parade. Plus, here's a little secret: We might also be able to integrate a parade of Harley Davidsons. The South Sound Harley Owners Group devotes so much of their free time to giving back to the community, and they want the Eastside to be as vibrant as we do.

We need all kinds of volunteers, big and small, for the McKinley Street Festival planning committee. Any contribution that you could make to this effort would be so greatly appreciated.

For more information, contact Jesse Hart at jeshart@harbornet.com.

Save the date: June 11 - Mixed Use Center review discussion

Thank you so very much to all of you who attended the Eastside's Mixed Use Center Review discussion on April 2. Now we need you to keep on keepin' on with this process.

Those in attendance on April 2 were supportive of the City of Tacoma's interest in adding Mixed Use Centers to the Eastside as a development incentive. And now that the City has a better idea of the recommendations they'd like to make to the City of Tacoma's Planning Commission, they're seeking a follow up meeting to go over plans for the Eastside and how the review process will proceed.

We need any and all of you to save June 11 on your calender so your views can be represented. We'll be sure to follow up to provide additional details about this meeting as they develop.

For now, for more information, visit http://cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=4614.

Eastside Neighborhood Council board members head to NUSA conference

Several of your Eastside Neighborhood Council board members will be venturing to Baton Rounge, La., next week for the annual Neighborhoods U.S.A. conference from May 23 to 25.

NUSA provides opportunities for diverse organizations to share their ideas, values and experiences to build stronger communties.

The Eastside Neighborhood Council board is looking forward to this opportunity to network with fellow community leaders and learn about neighborhood improvement best practices across the country.

We'll be sure to share our key learnings with you when we return.

For more information, visit http://www.nusa.org/.

Salishan Redevelopment project receives national awards

The Eastside Neighborhood Council is so happy to report that the Salishan Hope VI Redevelopment project is garnering national awards:

Tacoma Deputy Mayor Rick Talbert, the Tacoma Housing Authority, Lorig and Torti Gallas and Partners, accepted two national awards from the American Institute of Architects and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development honoring the housing and neighborhood design of New Salishan on May 3 in San Antonio. Later in May, Salishan will also receive an award from the Congress of New Urbanism. For more information, visit the Salishan Hope VI Redevelopment Web site.

We're so proud of this Eastside development, and we know that good things will continue to evolve from it.

Eastside Neighborhood Council board meeting: Meet Tacoma School District Superintendent

We hope you'll be sure to attend the May 21 Eastside Neighborhood Council board meeting from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Pool at Stewart Heights, 402 East 56th Street.

Amongst so many other interesting topics, we'll be meeting with Tacoma School District Superintendent Charlie Milligan who will discuss the future of Tacoma schools. This topic is of paramount importance with Eastside school closures that have occurred, or that the Tacoma School Board is considering. This will be your chance to interact with our superintendent to express your views.

We'll also be discussing several applications that Eastside Neighborhood Council has received for City of Tacoma Innovative Grants. We've received a great and exciting mix this year that our board will consider, including applications for a Portland Avenue Park performance center, an Eastside community cleanup, a neighborhood speed hump, a refencing project and a lighting improvement project. The Eastside Neighborhood Council would sincerely like to thank those grassroots organizers who have submitted applications. It's their dedication to Eastside improvement that continues to make our community a great place to be.

And as always, the ENACT board meeting is your chance to meet and talk with your Eastside Neighborhood Council board members. Let's work together to bring the Eastside to the Top of Tacoma.

For more information, visit http://www.eastsidetacoma.com/default.asp.

We'll see you there!