Setpember 2000

Higlights of the Meeting on August 1, 2000

The Grace Court Clock is coming soon! Delivery is expected for September. As you know a time capsule will be placed in the base of the clock. The board voted to approve a request by the Millenium Commission to place a city/county time capsule along with ours.

Parking on Burke Street was discussed. Pedestrian Business (PB) zoning is under consideration by the zoning department. PB zoning is less demanding in terms of the required number of parking spaces because of the assumption that some patrons will come on foot rather than in cars. We will keep you posted regarding when PB zoning comes up for a vote – so that we can add our voices to the debate.

Save the houses! A committee was formed last month to develop a strategy for opposing the demolition of the homes adjacent to the YMCA. The committee will meet to draw up a proposed plan and timeline for "anti-demolition" events to be presented at the next West End Association meeting.

House Tour update. Eight homes are now slated to be on the tour. A printer has been lined-up for posters, brochures, and tickets. House captains are beginning to organize, and arrangements are being made for the reception. Jackie Pittman has made whirlwind progress! Volunteers are still needed. If you have some time, we could use your help.

Newsletter Update: The board voted to permit the insertion of 1-page business advertisements in the newsletter for a fee of $75.

Welcome to the neighborhood! Andrea and Stuart Thomas have recently located to 909 West End Blvd.

Next monthly meeting: September 5^th (the day after Labor Day) at 7:00 p.m. at Grace Court Gazebo.

The West End is a Great Place to Live

Mary Ann Sevick

I received a few comments in response to the editorial I placed in last month’s newsletter about diversity in our neighborhood, and my concern that realtors were steering people away from the West End. One individual stated that in his opinion…"we should not let this concern us too greatly," and that we should "dismiss any negative comments from those realtors who are most likely a little uptight and give them the benefit of the doubt

that they just don't know any better." However two other individuals expressed dismay that these prejudices still exist. One person suggested that I highlight this section of the last newsletter and mail it to local realtors so that they can get some feedback about how they are representing this community to people who are considering making a move to Winston-Salem. I got mixed responses on my query about crime. One individual had experienced numerous car break-ins. (Hopefully this will lessen with the recent successes of the W-S police in apprehending those responsible for car break-ins in our area). Others however agreed that crime has not been a problem for them. One person wrote that from his personal experience and the experiences of clients, and friends that "areas such as Buena Vista, Sherwood Forrest and even Ardmore experience a high rate of car break-ins and theft, vandalism, and out right stealing from yards, garages and homes, not to mention the occasional occurrence of bodily harm." He continues saying that, "it is true that we do have a few panhandlers who, yes, are annoying, but relatively harmless and vandals who mostly have an obsession with spray paint, but what city or town in this country (worth living in) doesn't?" Thanks to all of you who took the time to respond to this editorial. If you have topics that you would like to see addressed in the newsletter (how about taking our trash to the front curb?), send me an email and I will bring it up in the next issue of the West Ender. (msevick@wfubmc.edu)

KUDZU

Come and join other arts and cultural heritage enthusiasts from the Western Piedmont Triad for an evening designed to explore innovative tourism development opportunities focusing on our region’s unique cultural traditions. The KUDZU 2000 Cultural Heritage Development Forum, an inclusive grassroots community organization of folks from a 6-county region around W-S, will sponsor a forum on Tuesday, September 26^th, from 7:00-9:30 pm at the Sawtooth Building, downtown. The evening will include entertainment, a multimedia presentation, audience input, as well as talks from nationally-known cultural and heritage tourism specialists. For more information, contact Elizabeth Carlson at (336)724-2008, or eecarlson@juno.com. The forum is free.

New Neighbor Helps Women Stay Healthy

Located right around the corner at 2000 West First Street, the West End has a new service which will help women and their families lead healthier lives. The Women’s Health Center of Excellence of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center has opened a Women’s Health Resource Center. The Resource Center is open to the public 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Center houses books, articles, videos, and pamphlets on a variety of women’s health topics from teen issues to healthy aging. The library catalogue is on-line at the Center’s web site www.wfubmc.edu/women.

Seminars and discussion groups on select women’s topics are held there, too. "Last spring we hosted an incredibly successful menopause discussion group, and this fall we have scheduled a breast feeding class for new parents," said Shellie Ellis, Assistant Director for the Women’s Health Center. Other women’s health classes and activities are held throughout Winston-Salem, at BestHealth in Hanes Mall, at the Carver School Road library, and at local businesses and churches.

"We want women to have easy access to health information so they can be better informed about the health care decisions they are making for themselves and their families," Ellis said. "It’s better if the information is where women go—right in their own neighborhoods. We also host a kiosk of health information at the Main Library on 5^th Street, which West End residents might want to checkout." The kiosk is located on the 2^nd floor near the elevators. Topics change every other month.

The Women’s Health Resource Center is one program of the Women’s Health Center of Excellence, one of only 15 centers in the United States selected by the U.S. Public Health Service to develop and evaluate state-of-the-art women’s health programs for women and health care professionals.

To learn more about the classes, programs and clinical services offered by the Women’s Health Center, call 713-4220 or stop by the Resource Center at Piedmont Plaza II, 1^st floor. They are in the space where Bobbit’s pharmacy was formerly located. Be sure to sign up for the Women’s Center mailing list.

And Now A Word From Our Sponsors

The Kitchen Center at 1105 Burke Street can handle all of your kitchen and storage needs. They offer cabinets from Woodmode, Crystal, Brookhaven, and Kitchen Craft. They came to Winston-Salem in 1984 and have been on Burke Street since 1991. Their hours are Monday - Friday 9 - 5 and Saturday 9-12.

Hello Betty offers vintage clothing and accessories. Bonnie Gillon, who is owner, bookkeeper, janitor, window dresser, (you name it--she does it) would love to see you Tuesday through Saturday 11:30 - 6:00. It's best to call first--Bonnie's also the errand runner.

Antiques by Patsy Dye is open Monday through Saturday 10 - 5:30 and some Sundays from 12:30 – 5 (call first). Pat specializes in French and English antiques and will soon start carrying some Italian pieces. She also deals in some very special American estate pieces. Pat carries English moiré silk lampshades in four styles, sixteen colors, and many sizes and has an exclusive with Limoge Castel of France for a lamp line designed by Pat. Come by soon and see the newly refurbished inside and outside of 457 West End Blvd,