Great Harrisburg Litter Cleanup

The 3rd Annual Great Harrisburg Litter Cleanup is April 16th from 9 am to 1 pm. While our park itself is clean, the perimeters of the park are getting bad. Last year, we cleaned Sullivan Alley, which is between Rudy Rd and Swatara St. It needs cleaned again. Also, we are trying to really clean the main arteries into the city, of which Market Street certainly qualifies. I am hoping to get about 20 volunteers this year. I would like to send 6 to 8 over to Sullivan Alley and the rest to a 4 block section of Market St. This is a street litter cleanup only. No bulk items and if a homeowner/resident comes out with a bag of trash, we do not take it. The cleanup ends at 1 pm so our dirvers can get all the bags to the incinerator by closing time. Bags, gloves, water and tools such as rakes will be provided. We would like everyone to preregister at http://bit.ly/ghlc2016. If you do not feel you can commit now but find you are able to help, we would not turn you away if you show up. You can get more info at the Clean and Green Harrisburg Facebook page. I would be willing to come and talk to any group that may be interested in helping in any way. If you know of another area in need of a cleaning please let me know. You can contact me, Dan Lewis, directly at bucdano@aol.com or by calling me at 870-213-7157 or 717-303-8993. LET'S CLEAN UP THIS CITY TOGETHER!! IT'S OUR HOME.

New Residents Welcomed to Park

On Sunday, February 7, 2016 new residents were invited for a “meet and greet” at the Community Building and to be officially welcomed to Bellevue Park.  Members of the Welcome Committee planned and coordinated the two-hour event for new neighbors of fifteen (15) homes that were recently purchased.  We are pleased that a number of our newest neighbors have already joined committees, helped with volunteer clean up days, and attended our social activities.

Board President Steve MacDonald, Welcome Committee Chair Carl Marshall, and various Park Committee representatives provided a brief overview of the Park’s association, committees, important information, and activities.  Our new residents had an opportunity learn how to get involved with the Park's many activities and were urged to sign onto our Google network.  Many thanks go to “tenured” neighbors for donating the tasty snacks and refreshing beverages. 

Welcome Committee members enjoy visiting with new residents to acquaint them with Park information including our many committees and activities, bylaws, and Park life.  If you would like committee members to visit you please contact Carl Marshall at 238-3414 or cmarshall2304@verizon.net.

Welcome, all new neighbors! 

The Snow Must Go On...

As we all know, every season is beautiful in Bellevue Park - even winter! In January, we've been buried with over 30 inches of snow in one weekend. Park resident Alex Miller shared some photographs with us. 

Thanks, Alex!!

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HELP SAVE OUR HISTORICAL SIGNS IN BELLEVUE PARK

With the approval of the Board of Directors of the Bellevue Park Association, money is being raised to restore our "PLEASE DRIVE SLOWLY"  signs.  One of the signs stood at Valley and Southfield Roads until a month or so ago.   During the past 100 years, the signs have deteriorated and parts have been lost forever.  However, an effort is under way to restore two original signs from which we were able to salvage parts as well as having 3 signs recreated via laser cutting by an artist.  These 5 signs will then be mounted on posts in strategic locations in the Park.  However, the more money we raise in this effort, the more signs we can install.  It is estimated that for 5 signs, $2,500 will need to be raised. 

To support this effort, please send your donation, with your name and address, no later than February 26, 2016 to Bob Pennell, Bellevue Park Treasurer.    

Please contribute today!  THANK YOU!

Fall Cleanup

To all of our fall clean up workers,

A huge thanks to everyone who participated in our clean up today!  There were 46 of you on this perfect weather day.  You  helped clean out the gravel from above the weir with the back hoe and shovels and then, distributed  the gravel into large dips in the Briarcliff Reservation.  You helped to weed out and prune the dead  holly trees (in spite of the snakes).  You planted Allen's donation of 10 yellow twig dogwoods.   You helped to trim, prune, rake, weed, cut ivy, remove dead trees, and lop branches around all of the reservations, ponds, and the guardrails. You planted lirope and mulched around our signs. You sawed large branches and trees and gathered sticks from everywhere.  You treated the ailanthus (an ongoing project) to get rid of it and planted new things on our banks.  That's a lot of work from a lot of people and so a gigantic "THANK YOU" for your time, energy, and fun doing it!!  

- Your Grounds Committee

Thanks everyone for a great Oktoberfest!

As always, I think we had a great Oktoberfest! Lots of friends, food, and beer... what could be better? The weather was great and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. Already, many of us are looking forward to next year! Auf Wiedersehen!

Oktoberfest 2015

September 2015 Food Swap

These photos were from the September 14, 2015 Food Swap. Great time as always! And get ready, there isn't much turnaround time before the next Food Swap, which is scheduled for October 12, 2015.

Freezer Raspberry Jam and lightly sweetened Applesauce from Swapper Carol was a beautiful example of preserving the local produce season's bounty.

New Swapper, Peggy, had made this Peach Jalapeno Chutney long ago, and brought the recipe back out to make a batch for her Food Swap debut. We are all glad she did!

There's always good conversation amongst neighbors.

Bellevue Park Pot Contest 2015 Results

Two Harrisburg residents who are great gardeners donated an evening to judge our flower pots here in Bellevue Park. The results are as follows!

Judges’ Choice     Carol Lopus

Best of Show         Nancy Graham

Best Composition

   1st Place   Rich & Nancy DiStanislao

   2nd Place  Barbara Pennell

Most Artistic

   1st Place   Elizabeth Johnson

   2nd Place  SueEllen Ramer

Whimsical

    Kathleen Bard

Most Unusual

    1st Place    Pat Buckley

    2nd Place  Sue Kalnasy

Best use of Color

    1st Place    Kate Quimby

    2nd Place  Ken McCann

Best use of Texture

   1st Place   Babs Phillips

   2nd Place Carl Marshall

On a personal note I think as a collective effort this was our best year ever. There were just so many beautiful well cared for pots. I admired so many pots that didn’t get recognized above. I hope all will participate next year and hope more neighbors will join in. This contest adds one more layer of beauty to an already beautiful neighborhood!

Nancy Graham

Sillybration 2015!

Thanks to everyone for coming out for a sometimes rainy, but always fun Sillybration this year! Some people were heard saying that they thought it was the best Sillybration yet! To help relive the memories of that day, check out the pictures from the day under the Bellevue Park Life menu and Event Photos section.

Food Preserving Presentation

On June 15, a Penn State Master Gardener / Master Food Preserver gave a presentation on Home Canning, Food Freezing, and Dehydration. Thanks to Bob for a great presentation and sharing information with us!

Bellevue Park Food Swap - May

What happens when people think "green" foods for a food swap? We all get to see the many shades of green that foods can display! Great effort, beautiful results, Swappers! The next Food Swap is scheduled for July 27th! For more information, please see the Facebook Food Swap page.

Swapper Tanya's offerings: Spinach Feta Bread (in bags), Green Goddess Dressing, and Cream of Asparagus Soup.

Swapper Carol's pretty display included Creme de Menthe made from mint growing in her yard and Chili-Lime Salt using dried lime zest.

A Swapper's take home goodies!

Making the Vue more Belle!

An energetic group of volunteers planted 6 new trees on Bellevue Park reservations On May 7.  Most of the trees were donated by residents in memory of a neighbor. In the words of Rob Ulsh - "making the vue more belle." 

Thank you to volunteer planters:  Kathy Bard, Allen Lengle, Ray Lewis, Ray Everngram , Rich DiStanislao, Pat Buckley, Nancy Graham, Vince Fogarty, Barb Pennell, Mary Warner,  Maurene Krauth and Rob Ulsh.

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Spring Cleanup

With sunny skies, 70 degree temperatures, 41 people, lots of enthusiasm, and energy, and lots of tools, especially the augur, we completed many projects.  Check this out!

• Installed 15 bollards on the perimeter of the reservations.
• Pruned magnolias on Magnolia Dr.
• Cleaned up muddy areas at lower end of  Briarcliff Reservation and uncovered 2 large drains in that area.
• Leveled 3 large piles of dirt on the lower side of Briarcliff Reservation.
• Raked all beds including Hillside, Briarcliff and Oakwood triangles, raked around holly tree grove and lower curve of Pentwater, and community building areas.
• Planted pansies, cardinal flower and hay scented ferns and transplanted small white pines.
• Took down 2 diseased hemlocks. 
• Wood chipped around our river birches and stone path.
• Took out to dispose of outdated, damaged signs.
• Cleaned out the community building garage.

Thank you to all who helped with these projects:  Rich DiStanislao, Mary and Jim Caufield, John and Lisa Arnold, Dave Laughery,  Vince Fogarty,  Jim Hillegrass, Tucker Susskind, Carl Marshall, Vickie Bucher, Sue Ellen Ramer, Rob Ulsh, Pat Buckley, Christine Quimby, Kate Quimby, Ray and Jean Lewis, Emily and Haley High, Seth and Jaydee Clark, Mike Sullivan, Claude Phipps, Elizabeth Johnson, Dan Deibler, Dan Stern, Brenda Barrett, John Kalnasy, Mary Warner, Steve MacDonald, Malea, Lilia, and Dex Haflett, Blair and Ann Kitlinski,Craig, Abby, and Becca Deimler, Carol Lopus, Barbara Pennell.   This is the list of people who signed the worker sheet.  Mike Harper delivered water and Terry Bachman delivered pansies. 

Spring is beautiful in Bellevue Park!!  Let's do it again in the fall,

The Grounds Committee

Spring! Magnolias!

Spring! Catch it before they're gone! If you live in the west end of the Park, take a walk or a spin down Magnolia Drive.

Magnolia Drive, in Bellevue Park. Two blocks of beauty in April! The Cherry Trees are in bloom, too, all over the Park. I love this time of year!

Annual Cabin Fever Soup Party

On January 24, from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Bellevue Park will be holding our annual Cabin Fever Soup Party at the Community Building. All are invited and please bring your favorite soup!

Holiday Party Thank You!

Thank you for your generosity to the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area on Grayson Road, expressed by your gifts and donations at the BP Holiday Party. Here is a list of your donations:

1. Four dog and cat leashes;
2. 84 cans of dog and cat food;
3. Three bags of dog and cat food;
4. Three large boxes of Milk Bones;
5. Two bags of dog jerky;
6. Three jars of peanut butter;
7. Assorted dog bones, treats, and dog and cat toys;
8. Five food and water bowls;
9. A package of cat litter and a disposable litter pan;
10. Two containers of disinfectant wipes;
11. One large box of laundry detergent;
12. Eight towels;
13. Eight rolls of paper towels;
14. Box of tall kitchen plastic bags;
15. One metal bucket;
16. And...cash and checks amounting to $105.00!!!!

It was quite a haul! Just wanted you to know, and end the year on a warm and fuzzy (literally) note!

THANK YOU BELLEVUE PARK!

A big THANK YOU to all who volunteered to plant the total of 17 trees in Bellevue Park this past week and Saturday.  I feel so fortunate to live in a community where neighbors come together to work for the betterment for all who live here.  It was truly a beautiful day.  As Clark Bucher and I delivered the trees to their planting sites about 7:30 on Saturday morning, we drove over a fresh blanket of yellow Ginko leaves covering Pentwater Road.  Not yet touched by car tires, it was lovely.  As we started our orientation on the tree planting, snow flurries filled the air.  This was followed by a day of sunshine and Bellevue Parkers marching through the streets with shovels in hand to find the next reservation or neighbor with a tree to be planted.  This was just one chapter of Bellevue Park neighbors supporting tree planting in the park.  For years, residents have sought to maintain our tree canopy that makes Bellevue Park such a special place.  To those curious about the green bags around the trees, they are called Gator Bags.  They are filled with 15 gallons of water, which slowly seeps into the ground to water the trees.  Please look out for the protection of our young trees and Gator Bags which will help them grow.

Fall Clean Up Thank You!

A gigantic thank you to the 36 people who joined in to help with fall clean up on this beautiful, crisp, fall morning (October 19, 2014)! 

They are:
Christine Quimby
Dan Lewis
Pat Buckley
Maureen Krauth
Jim Hillegan
Rachel Lewis
Matt Lewis
Lewis's dog, Baxter
Kathie Bard
Vince Fogarty
Tucker Susskind
Carl Marshall
Vickie Bucher
Mike Spangler
Nancy Graham
Kate Quimby
Kate Krusko
John Arnold
Jim Caufield
Carol Lopus
Joy Khohr
Walter Burnham
Dan Deibler
Paul Martz
Malea Haflett
Lilia Haflett
Dex Haflett
Mary Hearn
Joe Hearn
Bob Pennell 
Barbara Pennell
Rich DiStanislao
Ann Kitlinski
Blair Kitlinski
Simon Putt
Scarlet Putt
Elizabeth Johnson
Ray Lewis's truck

Please let Barbara or Carol know if we missed anyone who should be on this list. 

A grateful thank you,

The Grounds Committee

Oktoberfest!