Baseball Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson to Celebrate Little Rock Landmark 77 year-old Lamar Porter Field

Little Rock native Brooks Robinson, who was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983, returns to his hometown on Saturday, June 15, to lead the birthday festivities for the field where he first honed his playing skills. Lamar Porter Field, at the corner of 7th and Johnson Streets in the Stifft Station neighborhood, will mark its 77th year, making it the oldest actively-used baseball stadium in the state of Arkansas. Robinson, who played his entire 23-year major league career with the Baltimore Orioles, will help kick off a multi-million dollar effort to restore the facilities and grounds to better serve the city's youth. The program will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Lamar Porter Field (3200 West 7th Street). Tickets are $10 each and are available at Sportstop (10720 Rodney Parham Road). Each ticket includes admission to the event, a hot dog, soft drink and popcorn. All proceeds will benefit the campaign to restore the Lamar Porter Field and complex. Gates will open at 4 p.m. For more information, please visit www.lamarportercomplex.com or contact Holt McConnell at 501-951-4466.

Good Neighbor Night At
the Oyster Bar 4-11-13

Join your neighbors for dinner at the Oyster Bar, and support the CVSS Neighborhood Association! On Thursday, April 11, have dinner at the Oyster Bar, tell them you support CVSSNA, and the Oyster Bar will donate 20% of your receipt to CVSSNA. Bring your friends and family and grab a table, or join your friends from the CVSSNA meetings in the party room from 6 p.m. to about 9 p.m. This isn't an official meeting of the CVSSNA, so don't forget about our regular April meeting on Monday, April 8. See you soon!

What is CVSSNA?

CVSS Neighborhood Association We are neighbors working together to help improve our neighborhood, get to know each other, and help other neighbors learn how our city works. Everyone who lives in or who runs a business in the Capitol View and Stifft Station neighborhoods of Little Rock, AR is welcome and encouraged to join. We meet on the second Monday of each month at the CVSS Neighborhood Alert Center.

City Hall for a Day in CVSS Neighborhood!!!

Dear CVSS Neighborhood Residents-

Please try to attend City Hall for a Day at the CVSS Alert Center at 2715 W. 7th St., West Side Baptist Church, on Friday, November 2nd at 9:00am.

City Manager, Bruce Moore, residents, and staff will have a trolley tour of the CVSS neighborhood from 9am until around 10:30am, then City departments will give updates and have a Q&A session with residents following the tour. The City will provide lunch around 11:30am.

Please take time to think about any issues or concerns you may have regarding your neighborhood or City services.

This is a fantastic opportunity for the neighborhood. City Hall for a Day has occurred in other neighborhoods but it’s a first for CVSS!!

Spread the word and if you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me!


Thank you,
Kathleen A. Countryman
CVSS Alert Center
2715 W. 7th St
501.372.3856
501.372-3139 fax
kcountryman@littlerock.org

CVSSNA Easter Egg Hunt and Picnic

Join us on Saturday, April 7th from 11:00am to 1:00pm for the 3rd Annual CVSSNA Easter Egg Hunt and Picnic on the grounds of the Arkansas School for the Deaf. (You'll need to enter from Markham and then follow the arrows to get to the pavilion on the northeast corner of the campus.)

Be sure to arrive on time because the Easter Egg Hunt will take place promptly at 11:00am. There will be over 600 eggs hidden for the kiddos and some Golden Eggs for the adults to find too. (Each Golden Egg can be redeemed for a lottery ticket!)

Bring a blanket and a picnic lunch. We will have soft drinks and homemade desserts available for $1 each to help fund the event.

Last but not least, we'll have games for kids and adults. The prizes are AWESOME this year!!! You won't want to miss out!

And who knows, ... we may even have a visit from some BUNNY special. (hint, hint, hint) ;) So parents, be sure to bring your cameras. This isn't just an event for people with little kids though. Everyone is welcome! We've got fun planned for all ages!!! Can't wait to see everyone there!

A MESSAGE FROM THE TREASURER

The start of a New Year begins a new membership cycle for the Capitol View - Stifft Station Neighborhood Association. There are many reasons to join CVSSNA. The Neighborhood Association allows you to be an active part of your neighborhood and help improve the quality of life for you, your neighborhood and the city of Little Rock. Have a stronger voice! Whether you can be an active participant or a supportive member, we need your paid membership so CVSSNA can continue to be a catalyst for improvement in your neighborhood.

What benefits do you get for the mere cost of $10 a year? As a dues paying household, you are able to vote on issues before the CVSSNA that are important to you. Funds raised through membership dues are used to pay for the printing of this newsletter, which is a vital source of information for all of us as to what is going on in the neighborhood. These funds are also used to help fund events, such as the Easter Egg Hunt and National Night Out. Without your continued support, we are in danger of losing these activities. These funds help pay for materials needed by our Safety Committee to combat graffiti on signs and other structures in the neighborhood. So you see, even if you have not paid dues in the past, you have benefited from those who have. If every household paid the $10 membership fee, just imagine what other improvements could be achieved!

CVSSNA needs you to join the Neighborhood Association by paying your membership fee. That is how we function as an organization. We also need your involvement. Your neighborhood association is currently administered by a dedicated few. These dedicated few need your help! Come to a meeting. Hear what issues face our neighborhood. Hear what events are planned. Hear what is going on in our community. Provide suggestions to improve CVSS even more. I am proud to be a part of our Neighborhood Association and proud of the impact our little core group has had in protecting and improving our community. We live in the best neighborhood in the City! Our neighbors are wonderful, caring people. I can't imagine living anywhere else. Let's all work together to make it even better.

Remember, for your convenience, you can pay your membership dues via PayPal. Just go to the Join CVSSNA page on our site and you'll find the PayPal link.

Potential Rezoning in Capitol Area

NOTICE OF RULEMAKING

Pursuant to Arkansas Code Annotated § 25-15-201 et seq., notice is hereby given that the Capitol Zoning District Commission (CZDC) is considering proposed revisions to its Master Plan for the Capitol Area.

The proposed modifications to the Plan would rezone two square blocks to the southeast of the State Capitol (between 6th and 7th Streets, from Woodlane to Pulaski) from Zone A2 to A1. The proposed change would allow for the construction of new buildings in this area up to five stories in height.

The proposed rule changes are posted at czdc.arkansas.gov, posted on the Secretary of State’s website, or you may contact the Commission to obtain a written copy.

Written comments from the public will be accepted if received prior to August 8, 2011. Written comments may be mailed to CZDC at 410 South Battery Street, Little Rock, AR 72201. They may also be faxed to 501-324-9631 or emailed to boyd.maher@arkansas.gov.

In addition to written comments, the Commission will also accept comments at a public hearing to be held on Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. at the CZDC offices, 410 South Battery Street in Little Rock.

CVSSNA Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday 4-23-11 11:00am-1:00pm

CVSS 2nd Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Picnic - Saturday, April 23, 11am - 1pm Arkansas School for the Deaf Pavilion on the NE corner of the campus (enter on Markham and follow the signs) This is an event for all ages! You don't have to have kids to participate! The Easter egg hunt will start promptly at 11:00am! Over 500 eggs will be hidden with candy, toys, and stickers inside. There will be 10 Golden Eggs hidden for the adults to find with lottery tickets inside!!! There will be a special appearance by the EASTER BUNNY!!! Bring your camera to take pictures. :) Bring your sack lunch for the picnic. There are picnic tables available, or you can bring a blanket. Be sure to also bring some cash. We will have canned drinks and desserts for sale for $1 each to help pay for the event. Your support is greatly appreciated. To end the event we will have games to play as well - for the kids AND the adults. We'll have a sack race and an egg toss! The winners will receive gift cards! It's sure to be a lot of fun, so put it on your calendar and plan to get involved in your neighborhood this Saturday at 11am!!!

Dennison Street Block Party!
Sunday 4-17-11 3:00-6:00 pm

Come join your CVSSNA neighbors in the 200 block of Dennison for a party and cookout! We will have grills there, so bring anything you'd like to cook up. Plates, some sodas, some chips, and condiments will be provided. Any sides or desserts that you'd like to bring and share bring will be welcomed. Bring your own specialized beverages.

There will be a presenter from the Museum of Discovery (with animals!), live music, sprinklers, waterslides and wading pools, plus lots of other fun stuff.

Good Neighbor Night At the Oyster Bar 2-23-11

Whether you live in the neighborhood or not, come and show your support for CVSSNA! 10% of all order totals will be donated to the Capitol View-Stifft Station Neighborhood Association! Invite your friends, family, and of course, ... your neighbors!!! What better way to get to know those crazy people next door, than to invite them to a dinner that doesn't require you to cook or clean?!?! We've got the party room reserved so just head on over for dinner or drinks between 6pm and 8pm this Wednesday. Let's pack the place!!

CVSSNA Holiday Potluck
Monday, 12-13-10 @ 7:00 @ CVSS Alert Center

Instead of having our usual monthly meeting, in December we gather together to celebrate an awesome year in CVSS with a super fun potluck dinner. The Neighborhood Association will be providing Whole Hog BBQ as the main course. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share. (Please email Hospitality Chair, Katie Walden, at katie.m.walden@gmail.com to let her know what you are bringing. Plus, we need to get a rough head count for the BBQ.)
There will be activities for the kids as well. Everyone is welcome!

As a way to give back during this season of giving, we will be collecting towels (new and/or used) for the animals at the Little Rock Animal Village. If you bring towels to donate, then you will be entered into the door prize drawing!!!

Can't wait to see everyone there! Please spread the word to all your neighbors!

CVSS Block Parties!!!

September and October were the months for block parties! We had one in Stifft Station and one in Capitol View. Both were well attended and a ton of fun for everyone who came. We met new neighbors (human and canine) and ate some great food! Both events had activities for the kids too. Each event was used as a neighborhood fundraiser to help us raise money for some new decorative signage throughout CVSS. $457 was the total amount raised, ... PLUS several new households joined the Neighborhood Association!!!! Many thanks to all of the wonderful, dedicated neighbors who served on the planning committees to make these block parties so amazing! It wouldn't have been possible without each and every one of you. Can't wait to see how many block parties pop up all over the neighborhood next spring.

National Night Out 2010

Despite record breaking heat, National Night Out was another huge success this year! We had about 150 in attendance, with over 25 different vendors, games, and informational booths. The giant bounce firetruck and firetruck slide were huge hits with the kids, and of course the Jail'n'Bail with our beauty queen wardens made for a fun (and profitable) fundraiser. Our National Night Out even received coverage from Today's THV, with Craig O'Neal doing a live broadcast from the event. A new addition to the event this year was the Animal Village Mobile Adoption Center, where everyone got to play with the dogs that are available for adoption. We also had Little Rock CSI on hand to fingerprint all the kids for their child ID kits. As if music, games, activities, and food weren't enough of a reason to come, we also gave away compact fluorescent light bulbs, reusable grocery bags, and over $600 in gift certificates and prizes from local businesses and restaurants! Yes, it sounds like just a big, fun party, but National Night Out has a big purpose too. By getting to know your neighbors better, you make CVSS a safer place to live! This event also was a great way for us to educate our neighbors about all the great things our Public Safety Committee is doing and how to get involved. A big thanks goes out to all the businesses and organizations that made it all possible: Centerpoint Entergy, Unity Martial Arts, UAMS, LRPD, LR Firefighters, Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center, Massage Therapist - Rebecca Kilmer, Arbonne, CSI, the Animal Village, Rose Creek Park Initiative, Shaklee, Jewelry of the Amazon, Scentsy, Aurora, The Freckled Frog, CVSSNA Public Committee, Dwight Parks, George Jett, Dr. Bev Foster, Oyster Bar, Sports Page, The Dog House, The Yoga Studio, Sandlewood Forest, Advanced Health, Buice Drug, Tipton and Hurst, Downtown Deli, Your Mama's, Sunshine Cleaners, Tower Barber and Salon, and Livingston Chiropractic.

Home Security Survey Contest!!

Here's your chance to make your home safer and to win $100 in the process!

Did you know that L.R.P.D. has a free program to help you reduce the vulnerability of your home to burglars? It's really easy, just contact the department's resident trained break-in artist, Officer Michelle Hill, and ask her to come perform a security survey of your home. By following her recommendations, you'll make your home a less attractive target to criminals.

And now for the really good part: In order to make our whole neighborhood uninviting to the bad guys, CVSSNA is holding a drawing for a $100 Home Depot Gift Card at National Night Out for everyone who participates in the Home Security Survey program.

It's simple:

1)Just email or call Officer Hill (mhill@littlerock.org, 371-4634), and schedule a security survey of your home.
2)Let her know that you're participating in the CVSSNA drawing. After your survey, she will leave you a signed business card.
3)Add your name, address and phone number to the back of Officer Hill's business card, and drop it off in the draw-box at the CVSS Alert Center (West Side Baptist Church, 2715 West 7th) by Aug 2, and you'll be entered to win a $100 Home Depot gift card.

The drawing will be held at the Capitol View-Stifft Station National Night Out event on Tuesday Aug 3 on the front lawn of the Arkansas School for the Blind.

If you have any questions, or want me to pick up your business card, just contact Steve Chapman (schapman501@gmail.com, 960-6534).

The deadline for entries is Monday, Aug 2.

Let's all take advantage of this great opportunity to make Capitol View-Stifft Station the safest neighborhood in Little Rock!

1st Annual CVSSNA Easter Egg Hunt and Picnic

On Saturday, April 3 over 70 CVSS residents, friends, and family came together for the 1st Annual CVSSNA Easter Egg Hunt and Picnic! 720 goody-filled plastic eggs were hidden and hunted. Many thanks to the Easter Bunny's special helpers, Nancy and Evelyn for stuffing all those eggs. Plus, ... there were 12 Golden Eggs that were redeemed for lottery tickets; those were hidden super hard for the adults to find! After the big hunt, everyone settled down for a picnic lunch. Yummy desserts and drinks were available for purchase to help pay for the event. Thank you to Stephanie, Miriam, Karyn, and Laura Anne for the delicious treats and to Maggie and Lori for the refreshments! Thanks to Holly for manning the arts and crafts table; the kids had a blast being creative. A surprise visit from the Easter Bunny provided the perfect photo op for all in attendance! Then came the games! Kids and adults alike participated in sack races and egg toss games. More than a few people ended up with egg on their faces before it was all said and done! The winners received gift cards to lots of cool places. It got pretty competitive, but everyone had a great time and cheered each other on. This event was definitely THE place to be - no matter what your age! If you missed out this time, be sure you join in on the fun next year. Neighborhood association sponsored events are a great way to meet your neighbors!

Good Neighbor Night At the Oyster Bar 3-9-10

On March 9, CVSSNA held our first ever Good Neighbor Night fundraiser at The Oyster Bar. Big thanks to Virginia Boyd and her wonderful staff for hosting us, it was a blast! Between 6:00 and 9:00 pm we had no fewer than 60 folks come out and enjoy great food and lots of fun. Lori Berry brought a map and some pins, and we made it a little contest to see who had the best turnout. All parts of the neighborhood were really well represented: Capitol View had 16 households, Stifft Station had a dozen, and Little Switzerland had 4!! Thayer won street honors with 5 pins. The big prize goes to Brent Stamp for bringing FIVE GUESTS!! Everyone had a great time making new friends and eating for the good of the neighborhood! We don't know the final tally, but 10% of all that food ought to be a nice little donation to CVSSNA!!!

Gracie Delivers The Viewpoint!

2/14/10

Despite weather related delays in production and delivery, we're rolling out The Viewpoint this week. Many of you should already have received your copy; if you have not, look for it over the course of the next several days. Tammy Roberson covered a route today with a little help from her pal Gracie. We still have a few segments of the neighborhood that need volunteers to deliver, so if you're able to help us out contact Cara @ 960-3923 or cara.chapman@yahoo.com.

Rose Creek Hike and Meeting

Dear Neighbors, Did you know our CVSS neighborhood is bordered by a lovely wooded creek that is featured in our long-term neighborhood plan as a potential park and hiking/biking trail? Rose Creek runs near the railroad track on the eastern edge of our neighborhood. An adjoining trail could link our neighborhood with the Arkansas River Trail, UAMS, the Zoo, and Fourche Creek. The next planning meeting will be held at 108 Thayer on Thurs Feb 11 at 6:00 p.m. If you are interested in working with your neighbors and the City of Little Rock to help make this dream come true, contact me or Kathleen and we'll put you on the list for future hikes and/or meetings.
Rebecca Kilmer rebkilmer@gmail.com

Island Paradise!!

10/7/09

Thanks to the efforts of some of our amazing neighbors, the island at the intersection of Fountain and Markham is looking beautiful!! Keith Gober and Nancy Sheehan put in some serious time and effort cleaning, and then Keith and his partner Mark planted some wonderful greenery and laid down a bed of river rocks. The results are gorgeous and should require relatively little maintenance. Although Keith Mark stepped up and incurred the expense of all the materials on their own, they will certainly welcome any contributions that are offered. If you would like to help defray their costs a little (or a lot!), you can contact Keith at Keithg79@hotmail.com

National Night Out 2009

Tuesday evening Aug 4 CVSS neighborhood held its National Night Out event at the Star Bar. Members of the neighborhood and welcome guests enjoyed an evening of fun, food and community building - while raising awareness about crime prevention. Thanks to Larry and Stephen of the Star Bar for hosting the event, and to all the local businesses that helped us throw a wonderful get-together!

Dennison Street Block Party '09

The Second Annual Dennison Street Block Party/CVSSNA Membership Drive was held Sunday, July 12th on the second block of Dennison. Storyteller extraordinaire, Ameria Jones of the Historic Arkansas Museum, told stories to the kids and acted out songs like "The Green Grass Grows All Around." She had adults and kids alike mesmerized with her infectious energy. There were grills set up in the street cooking hot dogs and hamburgers. Neighbors brought potluck items, and the Frosty Treat ice cream man was there as well. The kids had a blast (and stayed cool) playing games in the water sprinklers. People and their pets mingled and had a chance to get to know one another a little better. Music filled the street, and folks from throughout the neighborhood joined together for some fun in the sun. Many thanks to Holly Hope for all her hard work making the event such a success!