2011, The Year of Idaho Food

Year of Idaho Food Flyer

Got this from the Treasure Valley Food Coalition, Thought I would pass it on

Ronnie

Hello,

I am writing today to provide information to the City of Boise’s registered neighborhood associations about 2011: The Year of Idaho Food. The Year of Idaho Food is a grass-roots, year-long, statewide look at the surprising variety of foods grown in Idaho – and not simply focusing on the foods themselves, but also on the social, economic and environmental significance of those foods. Think of The Year of Idaho Food as a garden bed from which many ideas and stories can spring into new life and new appreciation.

The Year of Idaho Food website http://www.NWfoodnews.com/category/year-of-idaho-food provides an opportunity for people throughout the state to share ideas, stories, photographs – anything that explores a connection to food and agriculture in Idaho, as well to learn of events planned around monthly themes to promote community discussion and civic engagement around the subject of food.

I encourage you to visit the website often so that you may keep abreast of the many exciting projects taking shape or already underway in neighborhoods and communities across Idaho. I hope that you will also take a look at the submission guidelines found on the webpage and consider sharing at least one story of your own. Whether your story is inspired by a desire to coordinate gardening efforts in your neighborhood, document your neighborhood’s agricultural past, or to grow the local economy through sustainable urban agriculture, it, like the other stories on the website, will help us to connect with one another. Finally, I encourage you to discuss both the opportunities and the challenges so that others engaged in similar community building efforts may learn from your experiences.

Locally, the Treasure Valley Food Coalition (TVFC) has sown a few seeds in the bed— organized at least one event or activity for each month of the year. We’re hoping many more seeds will be sown and begin to grow as individuals and organizations across the state decide to participate. Several neighborhood associations in the Treasure Valley have already contacted us wanting to learn how they can get involved in the Year of Idaho Food. In response, we have put together a list (below) of ideas for neighborhood associations to consider implementing. Also, in a separate attachment is an electronic copy of the Year of Idaho Food general information flyer. Please distribute this as you see fit to members of your board and beyond. And finally, if the Treasure Valley Food Coalition can assist in any way, please do not hesitate to contact us. TVFC is eager to hear about any and all food and garden-related initiatives taking root in Treasure Valley neighborhoods.

Thank you for your time and interest,

Amy Hutchinson, TVFC member

amynhutchinson@yahoo.com

Off leash dog parks??? Your Feedback is requested

Neighbors are invited to provide feedback on a proposed pilot program to allow off-leash dogs at eight parks throughout Boise.

The citizen Park & Recreation Commission and the Boise Parks & Recreation Department are seeking input to determine if there is neighborhood support for the proposed plan The parks identified as possible locations for the dog off-leash pilot program are:

Except for Winstead Park, dogs would be allowed off leash during early morning and/or evening hours at parks selected for the pilot project.

To avoid conflicts with user groups and park reservations at Winstead Park, dogs would be allowed off-leash during daylight hours from Nov. 1-March 31.

Sites were identified based on current uses, scheduled activities, geographic diversity, site access, parking, maintenance and financial impacts.

Existing regulations requiring owners to pick up after their pets would still apply. Additional mutt mitt dispensers and trash cans would be installed, and animal control officers and Boise Parks & Recreation staff would closely monitor compliance with the rules and evaluate seasonal park use patterns.

Neighborhood feedback is being gathered via:

  • Questionnaires mailed to nearby households
  • Online survey
  • 8 public meetings to be held Feb. 17-March 9

Public meetings for each park have been scheduled from 6-7 p.m. at:

Feb. 17: Cypress Park – Trail Wind Elementary Cafeteria, 3701 E Lake Forest Drive

Feb. 22: Manitou Park – Garfield Elementary Cafeteria, 1914 S Broadway Ave.

Feb. 23: Winstead Park – Morley Nelson Community Center, 7701 W. Northview St.

Feb. 24: Redwood Park – Library at Ustick, 7557 W. Ustick Road

March 1: Castle Hills Park – Cynthia Mann Elementary School Library, 5401 W. Castle Drive

March 3: Hillside Park – Library at Collister, 4724 W. State St. (Hillside)

March 8: DeMeyer Park – Boise WaterShed, 11818 W Joplin Rd

March 9: Sunset Park – Library at Collister, 4724 W. State St.

Feedback will be compiled for consideration by the Park & Recreation Commission. No start date has been established for the one-year program.

Currently, dogs must be leashed and owners must pick up after pets in all city parks. Parks are open from sunrise to sunset.

The City of Boise operates dog off-leash parks at three sites:

A fourth temporary dog off-leash area is planned for the Sterling site on Mitchell Street, pending funding.

For information, see www.cityofboise.org/parks or call the Parks Administration Office at (208) 608-7600. ###a

Neighborhood Crime Bulletin

Dear Neighborhood Leader
One aspect of Neighborhood Watch is knowing about current crime, especially in our areas.  Below is the link to the Boise Neighborhood Crime Bulletins.  These do not show all the reported crime, but may give you an idea of what is occurring in the area.

http://www.cityofboise.org/Departments/Police/NeighborhoodServices/NeighborhoodCrimeStats/index.aspx

To know which area comprises your neighborhood, I’ve provided a guide:

Bench:
Cloverdale (B1) – west of Five Mile Rd
Maple Grove (B2) – between Five Mile and Cole Rd
Central Bench (B3) – between Cole and Curtis, but taking in the I-84 Y
Orchard (B4) – between Curtis and Owyhee
Vista (B5) – between Owyhee and Federal Way

Valley:
Northwest (V1) – west of 36th St, north of Garden City
Downtown Boise (V2) – Rose St to Broadway
North End (V3) – between 36th and 6th, north of State
Broadway (V4) between Federal Wy/Capitol to Gekeler, south of Reserve to Warm Springs
Southeast (V5) east of Gekeler, south of Warm Springs, but taking in Warm Springs Mesa and Harris Ranch

For more detailed crime, check www.adasheriff.org and click on their Crime Mapping site.

For more information on the Neighborhood Watch program, please contact me.    Thank you,

Charlene Miller
Crime Prevention Unit
Boise Police Department
333 N. Sailfish Place
Boise,   ID  83704
208-570-6070

Upcoming City Council public hearing.

ZOA10-9 / Ordinance Amendment Establishing an Administrative Variance Process
Please be advised that the City Council will be conducting an advertised public hearing on
this ordinance amendment. The hearing will be held on February 15, at 6:00 p.m. in the
Council Chambers on the third floor of City Hall. The Planning and Zoning Commission
recommended approval of the amendment at its December 6, 2010, meeting.
The amendment will allow the Boise City Zoning Administrator to decide requests for
certain variances, including any variance in a residential zone, provided there is no adverse
comment from neighbors or the neighborhood association. Please see the attached for the
entire text of the amendment.
Please call Scott Spjute at 384-3830 if you have any questions.

Community Education Registration NOW OPEN!


The Winter 2011 Session of Community Education is now
online and open for registration!!

You may access the class list and register here:

Winter 2011 Session

You will find many exciting offerings this year including:
French, Italian, Banjo, QuickBooks, BeeKeeping, Backyard Chickens… and SO MUCH MORE!!!

We have more than 250 offerings.

Many classes are a great fit for family fun and offer adult and child registration discounts.

Jump online and register today! Our classes fill quickly!

See you in class in 2011!

Emergency Preparedness Pointers

Paul Marusich, with ACCEM (Ada City-County Emergency Management) has provided great information for neighborhoods that we can all use.

Charlene Miller
Boise Police Dept

Click on the link below for the January 2011 Emergency Preparedness Pointer.

Emergency Preparedness Pointers

Have a safe and enjoyable New Year,

Paul “Crash” Marusich
Public Education and Mitigation
ACCEM
Ada City-County Emergency Management
www.accem.org
Office: (208) 577-4750
Fax: (208) 577-4759

Crime Bulitins

Dear Neighborhood Leaders,

Below is the link to the Boise Neighborhood Crime Bulletins:

http://www.cityofboise.org/Departments/Police/NeighborhoodServices/NeighborhoodCrimeStats/index.aspx

To know which area comprises your neighborhood, I’ve provided a guide:

Bench:
Cloverdale (B1) – west of Five Mile Rd
Maple Grove (B2) – between Five Mile and Cole Rd
Central Bench (B3) – between Cole and Curtis, but taking in the I-84 Y
Orchard (B4) – between Curtis and Owyhee
Vista (B5) – between Owyhee and Federal Way

Valley:
Northwest (V1) – west of 36th St, north of Garden City
Downtown Boise (V2) – Rose St to Broadway
North End (V3) – between 36th and 6th, north of State
Broadway (V4) between Federal Wy/Capitol to Gekeler, south of Reserve to Warm Springs
Southeast (V5) east of Gekeler, south of Warm Springs, but taking in Warm Springs Mesa and Harris Ranch

For more detailed crime, check www.adasheriff.org and click on their Crime Mapping site.

Happy Holidays to you and your family from the Boise Police Department Crime Prevention Unit!

Charlene Miller

Charlene Miller
Crime Prevention Unit
Boise Police Department
333 N. Sailfish Place
Boise, ID 83704
208-570-6070
cmiller@cityofboise.org