Smith Hill CDC Home Ownership Informational Seminars

Smith Hill CDC and our partners in the creation of high quality, affordable homes are proud to announce two Home Ownership Seminars:

Saturday, Dec 10th 10-11, which will be followed by open houses at all our properties until 1 pm, and

Monday, Dec 12th 6-7

Light refreshments will be served and child care is available on-site.

The sessions will focus on home ownership and credit building.  There will be many industry professionals available for folks to ask questions and schedule follow-up appointments.

We will also have information and tours available for the home ownership opportunities available through Smith Hill CDC.

Our homes are professionally renovated with all new heat and electric, come with warrants on the work and materials and are priced well below market levels.

Currently, we have a varied selection of units available -

Capital Square - 3 bedroom condominium units located on Douglas Ave, minutes from Downcity Providence.

42 Violet - a spacious one-bedroom cottage

93 Goddard and 63 Candace – two floor townhouse homes with 4 bedrooms, each with a 2-bedroom rental unit.

Community Garden Plots Still Available

Davis Park Community Garden still has a few garden plots available in the newly expanded part of the garden. Gardeners agree to contribute an average of 5 hours per month of community service, and plot rental is $25 for the entire season!

There will be one raised plot which is suitable for the disabled or an elderly gardener who cannot physically bend over.

If interested, please contact, Kelly Smith at buddhasmiles@aol.com.

Community Meeting to Discuss Crime and Police Response

Smith Hill CDC and the Smith Hill Library will be hosting a community meeting on:

Tuesday, Jan 25th at 5:00 pm at The Smith Hill Library, 31 Candace St.

District 7 Commander, Lt. Daniel Gannon will be there as well as officers from the Gang and Narcotics Unit.  Our local political representatives will also be on hand.  This meeting is to discuss local crime trends and the response of our local police force.  It is also a good time to bring any concerns to the attention of our local elected officials and police.  All are welcome.

Library Friends Group Letter to PPL

The Providence Community Library has been managing the community library system for the last year, but it has no control over the buildings since they are still owned by the PPL (providence Public Library) and it refuses to do any work that is desperately needed.

This letter was prepared by all the Library Friends Groups in the Providence Community Library system.  It asks the PPL to address the building concerns that threaten many of our community’s libraries.  If you believe in our neighborhood libraries and are upset about the benign neglect that has been allowed to go unchecked for years in these buildings, please download and send a copy to PPL.  You can also talk to your State Senator, Representative and City Council person about your belief in the need for a strong and functioning library.

Fix Our Libraries Now!, Support Letter

HousEART Goes Citywide

Lydia Stein has taken HousEART citywide and she has started her first project of the summer!  Located at 63 Kossuth Street, the house is across from William D’Abate Elementary School.  Anthony Resto, age 20, worked with Ms. Stein and these pictures  represent the first day’s progress.  Stay tuned for more pictures and look for HousEART all over the city.

HousEART is also proud to announce the opening event to celebrate its first 2010 summer mural!

The event will take place on Thursday, August 5, from 4:30-6 pm, on Kossuth Street in Olneyville in front of the William D’Abate Community School. The event is a collaboration of HousEART, the Manton Avenue Community Garden, and the D’Abate Youth Garden Club in partnership with Southside Community Land Trust. Rain date for the event is Friday, August 6.

HousEART was started in Smith Hill by the Smith Hill CDC.  For more information click here.

Smith Hill Library’s Staff Appreciation Day Celebration

Please join the Smith Hill Friends Group for our Staff Appreciation Day Celebration.

The party will be June 7, 2010, from 4:15 – 5:45  at The Smith Hill Library, Where else?

Our Staff members are intelligent, informative,supportive, caring and fun!!

Let’s show Alan, Amy, Jennifer and Joey how much we appreciate all that they do to make our trips to the Smith Hill Library pleasant and informative journeys! There will be Food, Games, Prizes, Music and More…

Community Meeting about Partial Lead Pipe Replacements

Community Meeting about Partial Lead Pipe Replacements

Providence Water has been changing the lead-lined  water pipes in the streets, but not the lead pipes that connect to your house.

Come learn more about the problem, the solution and what you can do to make your family safe!
Thursday, May 27
5:30 PM
Mount Hope Neighborhood Association

(199 Camp Street, Providence, RI 02906)
Participating organizations: Mount Hope Neighborhood Association, Childhood Lead Action Project, Clean Water Action, Mount Hope Community Baptist Church
More info/RSVP to: Laura Brion, Childhood Lead Action Project (785-1310, laura@leadsafekids.org)

Trees, Trees, More Trees!

Smith Hill is about to witness some serious tree plantings.  Smith Hill CDC co-sponsored and was awarded a Neighborhood Street Tree Planting Award from The Providence Neighborhood Planting Program which will result in close to 50 trees planted on the sidewalks along Bath St., Goddard St. and Candace St. in front of  the Library.

We would like to also take this opportunity to inform residents about two great non-profit organizations working in Providence that help neighborhoods and individual residents acquire high-quality, inexpensive (or free!) trees for side walks and private property.

Trees 2020 is an initiative with an ambitious goal: to plant and care for 40,000 new trees across Providence’s 25 neighborhoods over the next 12 years. By planting 40,000 trees, Providence can increase its tree cover to 30%.  Trees 2020 will make low-cost trees available for purchase to encourage you to join the effort and plant a tree.

The Providence Neighborhood Planting Program (PNPP) is a street tree planting and maintenance partnership between the Mary Elizabeth Sharpe Street Endowment, the City of Providence and the residents of Providence.  Since 1988, The Mary Elizabeth Sharpe Street Tree Endowment has matched Providence Parks Department funds to provide sidewalk preparation, new soil, trees, and tree delivery at no cost to Providence residents who apply and receive a Neighborhood Street Tree Planting Award.

Smith Hill Citizens Police Academy

District 7, Lieutenant Daniel Gannon, is conducting Providence’s first Citizens Police Academy in Smith Hill beginning in late April.

The academy is free and available to anyone.  It is a nine week course that meets weekly for two hours.  There will be many guest speakers, interactive exercises and ride-alongs with on-duty officers.

For more information please contact District 7 Commanding Officer,
Lt. Daniel Gannon at dgannon@providenceri.com or call the substation at 206 Camden Ave, 243-6970.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration

The Institute for t he Study and Practice of Nonviolence is sponsoring an MLK Day Community Celebration Monday, January 18 from noon until 8:00pm at the Roger’s Recreation Center, located at 60 Camden St.  The purpose of “Choose Community Choose Peace” is to not only recognize Martin Luther King (MLK) Day, but to also celebrate as a community and to appreciate our community’s diversity.

The celebration will begin with a free community lunch and Community Fair from 12 – 2.  The food has been donated by area restaurants and many community organizations will be on hand to share information about services and volunteer opportunities.  The rest of the day and evening will feature a Talent Show and various Tournaments, including ping-pong, 3 on 3 basketball and Madden NFL XBOX Football competitions.   MLK Day Celebration Flyer