Smith Hill Community Development Corporation
  Smith Hill News April, 2009
Spring Events

Hello, and Happy Spring! 

Smith Hill Community Development Corporation
would like to inform you about some interesting upcoming events and initiatives in the neighborhood.

As always, these community events and more can be found on our Community Calendar. 
  • Neighborhood Service Day - Providence College, The Community Congress, Elmhurst Clean & Green, Friend of the Smith Hill Branch Library and the Smith Hill CDC are sponsoring a neighborhood Day of Service on Saturday, April 25th.  All volunteers will be meeting at Davis Park between 9 - 10, and groups will disperse for various clean-ups and other projects from there.  We are encouraging all neighbors to get involved by meeting at Davis Park to join a group, by jumping in on a crew that passes your house or by doing something community-oriented on your own that day.  All are welcome back to Davis Park between 1 - 2 pm for a celebration and food. 
  • District 7 Community Police Meet & Greet.  District 7 has a new Commander, Lt. Daniel Gannon and he is hosting this meeting in order to  hear community concerns.  The event is 6:30, April 30th at the Da Vinci Center, 470 Charles St. and all residents of Smith Hill, Elmhurst, Wanskuck or the North End are invited.  Meet and Greet Flier


Erasing the Defacing Logo
Erasing the Defacing is a public/private partnership between the Smith Hill Community Development Corporation, Mt. Pleasant Hardware, The City of Providence and Pittsburg Paints which is designed to help homeowners, tenants and small business owners keep their properties graffiti-free.
 
The program will supply a limited quantity of free color-matched paint  for use in the repainting and maintenance of vandalized areas on Smith Hill and Mt. Pleasant properties.  Click here to learn more


Smit Hill CDC Tax Credit Property
Community Art Project

Smith Hill CDC
is proud to sponsor a Community-Wide Art Project using foreclosed, multi-family houses that we currently own as the canvasses. 

Groundbreaking for renovations on these properties is at least four months away, so in the meantime we are inviting artists to form teams and beautify individual boarded-up foreclosures.  Click here to learn more.

Tree Plantings
 
In memory of neighborhood resident and activist, Tom Twitchell, a successful tree planting happened in early April.  Fourteen trees were planted in Smith Hill and many neighbors and friends came out to help.  Building on this success, there will be another planting in early fall.  If you are interested in planting a tree outside of your house or becoming involved, please contact Rebecca Twitchell.
 
 
Davis Park Revitalization
 
There are great changes planned for Davis Park this year.  Elmhurst Clean & Green is spearheading the efforts and the first step is to install a community garden.  The City Parks Department is currently engaged in moving a waterline for use in the garden and some site work.  Please click here, if you are interested in learning more about the project, signing up for a garden plot or if you would like to become involved otherwise.



Potential Help For Homeowners

The recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has created a plan designed to help millions of homeowners refinance or modify their mortgages.  The plan is evolving quickly and new information is being released daily.  Click here to Learn More.



Library News

It remains difficult to keep up with the pace of library news in Providence lately.  Providence Community Library is continuing to talk with the Mayor's staff about taking over the management of the neighborhood branches of the Library system from the Providence Public Library.  Negotiations are slated to being this week to discuss the transition.  The PCL is an organization comprised of community members that is focused on a full-service and vibrant branch system. 

 
Smith Hill Library Friend's Group

Friends of the Smith Hill Branch Library are hosting a Bake Sale in conjunction with the Neighborhood Service Day, April 25th.  The group is also cleaning out the garden in back of the library, so come on down and lend a hand or have something sweet to eat for a great cause.

Many of you have signed up to become Friends of the Smith Hill Library. Becoming a Library Friend involves as small donation, $5 minimum, and any level of participation you chose.  You can come to monthly meetings or not.  There is strength in numbers and it would go a long way to saving the local branch if the Friend's Group can demonstrate a over one hundred members. 

If you are ready to give now, checks can be made to "Friends of Smith Hill Branch Library", and sent to the Smith Hill Branch Library located at 31 Candace St., Providence 02908.  Or please contact Mrs. Althea Graves.



Smith Hill Community Development Corporation
47 Goddard St.
Providence, RI
521-0159
www.smithhillcdc.org