It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas in the VEHA

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Royal Oak, and in the VEHA. On Saturday, November 20, the ninth annual Holiday Magic Parade on Washington Avenue kicked-off the Holiday Season in Royal with the arrival of Santa Claus.

Here in the VEHA, over the Thanksgiving four-day weekend, I saw neighbors stringing seasonal lights, setting up holiday lawn decorations and trimming doors with holly wreaths.

Soon, Block Captains will be dropping off luminary order forms at homes throughout the VEHA so that we can all join in our annual tradition of lighting up our corner of the world on Christmas Eve. During the week before Christmas, the Block Captains will be delivering the orders, along with instructions for setting up and lighting the luminaries.

To help you get into the holiday spirit, here are some photos from the Holiday Magic Parade. I hope you enjoy them, and I wish all the families in the VEHA a very Happy Holiday Season and a wonderful New Year!

Dan Saad - VEHA Memo Editor
406 Potawatomi Blvd.
d1saad@aol.com
The Book Worm was one of a number of floats from The Parade Company, the organization that sponsors the annual America's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit, to appear in the 2010 Royal Oak Holiday Magic Parade.
Royal Oak's own Borgo School of Dance and Gymnastics Dance Team performed a special seasonal routine in the parade.
The Royal Oak High School Marching Band was a highlight of the Holiday Magic Parade, providing seasonal music all along the parade route.
As a 1972 graduate of Cass Technical High School in Detroit, I was happy to see the CT Marching Band in the Holiday Magic Parade. The Marching Technicians drew cheers from the crowd when they performed their show band routine, just before the arrival of the most-anticipated parade participant.
Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived in Royal Oak and were greeted by Mayor Ellison with the key to the city. With the arrival of the Jolly Ol' Elf, the Holiday Season officially began in Royal Oak!

A Very VEHA Halloween


We light up our corner of the world every October 31 in the VEHA, too, except it's with jack-o-lanterns instead of luminaries! Halloween 2010 featured a perfect late-Autumn evening and the streets of the association were full of eager trick-or-treaters and their parents.

Above are a few photos I took on Potawatomi Blvd.; in front of our house, as well as on the front porch of neighbors Doug and Diane Price.

VEHA Picnic Returns; So Do Friends and Neighbors

Return of the VEHA Picnic Brings Out Friends and Neighbors
The VEHA Picnic returned on July 17, after a year's absence in 2009. Interested neighbors restored the annual event and friends and neighbors from throughout the neighborhood gathered to share lunch, stories and friendship.

Coming just days after the storm that downed many trees and knocked out power throughout the neighborhood, that was a popular topic of conversation. In addition, though, neighbors caught up on family news, shared updates and rekindled friendships.

The picnic is one of the three signature events of the VEHA, the others being the annual VEHA Yard and Garage Sale in May, and the Christmas Eve Luminary Display.

"It's wonderful to see the picnic return," said Norma Reginold, a long-time resident and VEHA Luminary Chairperson. "Bringing the neighbors together for a social event like this strengthens the bonds of the neighborhood and makes this a better place to live!"

Keeping the VEHA Beautiful
A note from Barb Johnson: Did you notice how nice the "islands" are looking? I (and some helpers I paid for) pulled weeds and dug most of the trenches. If these trenches are maintained, grass roots and some weeds will not enter those islands and the job of upkeep is much easier. Volunteers are needed to help!

I suggest four people per island, making it about a 30-minute job each spring and fall. Will you donate some time? If so, please give me a call at 248-589-2286.

SEND YOUR NEWS and neighborhood information to Dan Saad, VEHA Memo Editor, at d1saad@aol.com; and watch this site for regular VEHA updates!

Summer Storms Changing Our Landscape

The summer storm that hit the VEHA the week of July 14 (complete with a brief power outage)
changed our Vinsetta landscape, downing one of the last Willow trees that remained on our median. This old tree, across from Bicycle Hill Park, was one that my daughters and I visited frequently throughout the years. As tots, they would climb up between its tri-trunks and jump down into my arms. In later years, it was a regular stop on our walks where we'd pause for a drink and to just enjoy the beauty of our neighborhood.

Nature changes constantly - old trees fall, and new ones sprout. While it was sad to see this old friend fall, it reminded me that it's important to enjoy each step on our journey through the landscape around us and appreciate all the beauty our neighborhood offers us all!

Happy summer!

Dan Saad, VEHA Memo Editor

Neighborhood Updates
Rabid skunks have been confirmed, in two cases, in Royal Oak this season. A family dog, not vaccinated against rabies, contracted the disease from a skunk bite. Several other skunks, witnessed acting abnormally, were destroyed and their remains sent for testing. If you observe any animals acting abnormally this summer, call the Royal Oak Police at 248-246-3500 and report it.

For more information on rabies, call Oakland County Health and Human Services at 248-858-1406, or toll-free at 1-800-848-5533. For information on animal testing, call the Oakland County Health Division - Communicable Disease Unit at 248-858-1286 or toll-free at 1-888-350-0900, ext. 8-1286.

Raccoons, including a mother with four young, have been sighted on Pinehurst climbing trees and rummaging through garbage cans. Several years ago, raccoons took up residence in some Pinehurst attics and chimneys. The City of Royal Oak has no services to trap and relocate raccoons. Residents with raccoon problems must contact a private pest control company.

If you have an e-mail address and wish to get regular e-mail updates from the City of Royal Oak, including Police Updates, go to www.ci.royal-oak.mi.us/portal/content/e-mail-notification and sign up.

VEHA Picnic - On Again in 2010
Our neighborhood picnic will be held at Waterworks Park (Beechwood and Magnolia) on Saturday, July 17 (rain date, Sunday, July 18) at noon. Instead of bringing your own lunch, just bring a dish to pass for 8-10 neighbors and your own (non-alcoholic) beverages. The Parks Department will put out picnic tables for us, so you don't have to bring your own tables and chairs. Paper goods and flatware will be provided by the VEHA. This is a wonderful way to get re-acquainted with old friends and to meet new neighbors - we hope to see you there!

A Perfect Weekend for Sale-ing

The Eberhardt family, of 411 Potawatomi, held a yard sale to benefit A New Leash on Life; an animal rescue and education organization that depends entirely on volunteers and donations.

The weekend of May 14-16 was ideal for the annual VEHA Yard/Garage Sale event. Hundreds of bargain-hunting visitors shopped throughout the association over three days of sunshine and moderate temperatures.

Two families on Potawatomi used their yard sales to raise fund for local charitable organizations. The Eberhardt family, of 411 Potawatomi, raised funds for A New Leash on Life - an animal rescue and education organization that depends entirely upon volunteers and donations to carry on its work.

"Volunteers from the organization donated all the items we have for sale," said Debbie Eberhardt, " and all the money goes directly to support adoptions, feeding, fostering and other related activities." Debbie noted that A New Leash on Life is always in need of donations of pet foods, bedding, litter; and in need of foster families to support the program.

For more in formation, visit: https://anewleashonliferescue.org, or e-mail to: anewleashonlife@hotmail.com.

Doris, Juli and Amanda Saad, of 406 Potawatomi, sold bright pink tents for the Komen for the Cure 3-Day that was held in 2006. After that event, the tents were donated to their Girl Scout Troop. The tents were still in like-new condition, even after several Scout camping trips, so the girls decided to sell them to raise money for this year's 3-Day.

"It's like recycling," Juli and Amanda said, "we're selling the tents to people who will put them to good use, and the money goes back to the Susan G. Komen foundation to fight cancer."

For more information about the Susan G. Komen Foundation, visit: www.The3Day.org.

VEHA Picnic is Coming! The annual VEHA neighborhood picnic has returned, after its cancellation in 2009, thanks to renewed interest. This year's picnic is set for Saturday, July 17 (with a rain date of Sunday, July 18). Plan to bring a picnic lunch and a dish to pass for your neighbors. Paper goods and plasticware will be provided by the VEHA. Plan to bring along tables and chairs, too.

Send your news and comments about the VEHA to Dan Saad, VEHA Memo Editor, at d1saad@aol.com, or post them here at VEHA Memo. See you at the picnic in July!

Spring Fever has arrived in the VEHA!

It's springtime in the VEHA. The grass is greening, there are buds on the trees and everything in the neighborhood is new again - including the VEHA Memo.

Many of you are reading this online version for the first time - Welcome! VEHA Memo online debuted (quietly) last fall, with the goal of becoming our community bulletin board, idea exchange and online meeting place for everyone who lives with the Vinsetta East Homeowners Association.

Please look through the posts from fall and winter - you'll see neighborhood news updates, photos from the filming of "Red Dawn" last September, our Luminary Display last December, and even photos of last year's garage/block/yard sale.

Thank you to Ann Ford, of Orchard View, and to Christine Keragis of W. Webster for the comments you've made already - thanks for reading, and spread the word!

Spring 2010 Update

'Bicycle Hill' Clean-up - The annual clean-up of Dickie Putnam Park (or Bicycle Hill Park, or Sledding Hill Park, depending on the season) is on Sunday, April 25 at 2 p.m. Volunteers are needed to rake leaves and pick up debris, and get the park ready for summer family fun. Please bring your own rakes and work gloves; VEHA will provide bags. The whole family is welcome!

Garage/Block/Yard Sale - This year's annual event is May 14-16, with sale hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. VEHA will place newspaper ads and you can contact Norma Regenold at 248-585-7021 for signs if you need them. Join the fun - it's a great way to get reacquainted with your neighbors and make a few dollars.

VEHA Picnic is on again! - The annual picnic has been revived, after its cancellation in 2009, thanks to renewed interest. The 2010 picnic is set for Saturday, July 17, with a rain date of Sunday, July 18. Plan to bring a picnic lunch and a dish to pass with your neighbors. Paper goods and plasticware will be provided by the VEHA. Plan to bring along portable tables and chairs, budget cuts in Royal Oak may prevent us from having any picnic tables in the park.

Neighborhood News

One of my friends and neighbors, David Hertzberg, of Vinsetta Blvd., sent along this photo he took in September 2009 during filming of the movie "Red Dawn" on our street. Thanks, David! I you have photos or stories about your experience with the "Red Dawn" cast and crew, share them with your VEHA neighbors - post them here or e-mail them and I'll upload them. Our family got into the movie business - sort of - during the filming last year. Wolverine Productions rented our garage (on Vinsetta) for two days, for equipment storage and access to an electrical outlet. Not glamorous, but show biz nonetheless!

- Dan Saad, VEHA Memo Editor
d1saad@aol.com (406 Potawatomi Blvd.)

Happy New Year! VEHA is a Neighborhood for All Seasons

We again "lit our corner of the world," on Christmas Eve throughout the VEHA with our annual luminary display. Thank you to everyone who participated and added warmth to the holiday season!

"Happy New Year!"

I can still say that because, as I write this, it's still January and there are many, many of you neighbors whom I haven't seen since the first of the year.

Although we're experiencing our annual January thaw, with the first snowfall after the holidays, my kids and I have already been sledding on Bicycle Hill and skiing along the Vinsetta Blvd. median. Oh, and they built a snow fort, too.

This all reminds me that our VEHA neighborhood is truly one for all seasons - with sights and activities for everyone, year 'round. While it's difficult to head off to work in the early, cold, dark hours of our winter mornings, the weekends offer a winter playground just beyond our doorsteps!

It's natural to long for spring's warmth and lengthening days - I'm looking forward to them myself - but in the meantime, enjoy the seasonal gifts we have. Snow, when it falls; cold, clear days when the sun shines; and caring friends and neighbors to whom we can wave and say hello!

Spring Calendar: Coming along with the warmer weather will be our annual clean-up of Bicycle Hill Park and our annual VEHA Garage/Yard Sale - watch for e-mail and blog updates as the events get closer!