OAK PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, Traverse City

Hi, I'm Carol Danly on Webster. I'm working behind the scenes in support of Ty Schmidt, Mary Van Valin and our Oak Park Neighborhood association. Our website needed some new posts. No one came forward with any suggestions or articles. So, I thought, “What would be of general interest to all 370+ households?” I was ma’am. She was Officer Hecko. To be honest, the formalities felt like a barrier to me. The formalities are, Traverse City Police Officer Hecko explained, a sign of respect. I would be ma’am until she was told by me to do otherwise. Ditto as regards Officer Hecko. We are on a first name basis now. Mikki (pronounced Mickey) Hecko is a relative newcomer to the TCPD, taking the oath of office June 22, 2022. Originally from Muskegan, she graduated from Lake Superior State University with two criminal justice degrees and police academy certification. She has seven years experience, the last five in Ludington where she was a patrol officer, then, detective/evidence techn...

1. TC’s neighborhood association presidents are meeting soon. I will be attending, but I’d like to hear “what’s important to you” from more Oak Park neighbors. 2. Gatherings? Is it time we get together? Maybe a skate at F&M? Sledding party at the Civic Center? Winter walk down to the Little Fleet? Or something else? If you’re interested in coordinating, please let me know. 3. The City Commission is seeking an outside legal opinion on the 1947 agreement re: the Parkway redesign tonight. If you’d like to stay in the loop,  complete this form . That’s it for now. Keep awesome, Oak Park. ~ Ty “When my babies were in school, I went back to teaching and got a job at Oak Park Elementary School.  My students lived in this neighborhood, and many of their wonderful families still do today. In 2010, this tiny, run-down house came up for sale, I coordinated the purchase of the ¼ lot adjoining, so I could have a big garden.  The old building on that ¼ lot was a creamery in the ear...

M ary and Pete Mantei and I met with Colleen Paveglio from the City in December. Our agenda included: Neighborhood Priorities: What are the top priorities in relation to the City within your neighborhood? Increased Communications: Where do you suggest communication can be increased to benefit the residents in your neighborhood/City? Where do you view communication “blind spots” between the City and the residents? Future Endeavors: Website Overhaul, Digital Newsletter and Text Alerts Very productive meeting. If you’d like to weigh in on the above, please add your ideas/comments/suggestions  HERE . We’ll have another meeting with Coleen this spring. ~~~ Should we plan a winter get-together for the neighborhood in February? If you would like to help plan it, email me at  oakpark.tcmi@gmail.com . ~~~ In case you missed it, Colleen and the City just published their 2021 annual report. It’s impressive. Check it out  HERE. ~~~ Mary and Pete also helped kick off our Humans of Oa...

A few updates: 1. Our neighborhood association has been activated.  Check it out here on the City website . 2. Colleen Paveglio from the clerk’s office would like to take a walk with us to learn how she/the City can better communicate with the neighborhood. If you’d like to attend that meeting, let me know.  Or share your ideas on this form . 3. Thanks to those who took my “how many neighbors do you know” survey. There’s still time to help with this citizen-led research project. Takes 60 seconds. Click  HERE . 4. I’ll be starting a Humans of Oak Park (riff on the popular Humans of New York) storytelling series to help us get to know each other better. If you’d like to play and tell your story on how you became an Oak Park neighbor, let me know. That’s it for now.  Keep awesome, Oak Park. Ty PS. And how about this lovely lamp post at Webster/Barlow?!? So great.