Volume 4 Number 3: Winter 2007 Ned Notes: Thoughts from our Association President On October 16th, we held our annual Association meeting.  All officers and board members who were willing to continue to serve the Association were re-elected to their positions.  Rick Rababeh was elected block captain for Long and Diana Marx was elected as block captain for Law.  Nicole & Dave Rever agreed to handle dues collection and distribution of luminarias for Law.  Following the business meeting, Godfrey Udoji and Larry Gilbert from City Hall gave an informative presentation and fielded questions about the CSO project taking place along the Rouge south of Alexandrine. As we head into the winter season, I should remind you of parking restrictions that go into effect when a snow emergency is declared.   When the emergency siren sounds, cars must be moved off the street or risk being ticketed or towed.  I encourage all of you to make sure your vehicles are out of the way of the plows. This will make it faster and easier for the city crews to clear the snow from curb to curb. Starting in January, the city is implementing public service days in the first and third full weeks in each month.  All vehicles must be removed from the streets on our regular trash days in these weeks so that city workers can perform whatever services are necessary.  In the winter this may be additional plowing or storm drain cleaning.  In the warmer months (and they will come again) there will be tree trimming, street sweeping and other required maintenance. Again this year, Riverbend will continue its tradition of putting out luminarias on December 24th.  I hope all of you will be able to participate in this neighborhood holiday decorating tradition.  Last year the residents on Law had a continuous string of luminarias from end to end.  The effect was beautiful.   I would like all of Riverbend to look that good this year.  Please consider placing luminarias on adjoining property if you know the owner will not be doing so.  Toni C & Linda Stechison will again place and light luminarias around Cherry Hill Park. I hope you all have a joyous holiday season. Web Update In order to give residents easy access to important information, two links were recently added to the Riverbend home page:  A link to the City of Dearborn web site; and a link to the new Riverbend Blog.   The Blog can also be accessed via the url  www.Riverbend48124.com/blog.  Residents for whom we have E-mail addresses were not only notified of these developments prior to the printing of this Newsletter, but also quickly received an announcement and photos of a coyote spotted near Law and Sylvan.  Please make sure to include your E-mail address when you pay your dues. Annual Association Dues & Holiday Luminarias Holiday Luminarias have been a tradition in Riverbend for over 20 years.  This year, lighted Luminarias should be placed in front of homes at dusk on Monday, December 24th, 2007.  Typically, a home on an average sized lot needs 5 or 6 bags, each with a candle and sand.  Block Captains have all the materials you need and the price is still only 50 cents per bag.   Annual Association dues -- still only $10 per household! Home