It’s another beautiful season in the Historic Hudson Community Association area. Lots to look forward to in the near future. Leaves changing colors, mums, fall decorating and one of the greatest events in the area…. Halloween. Plenty of beautiful weather left to enjoy. A great time to work in the yard, decorate, take walks and hikes. Lots of great fall sports to participate in or watch – cross country, football, volleyball, jogging /hiking trails and Newark’s latest addition – Pickleball (courts next to the Ice Rink on Sharon Valley Road)! It’s time for chili, fire pits, hunting and long bike rides.
Newark Citywide Beggar’s Night is Thursday October 27 from 5:30-7 pm. This is one of the area’s great nights to welcome visitors into our neighborhoods. It’s a great time to be a kid again, to decorate your home, to plan for your hand outs and perhaps to dress up and celebrate the night. PLEASE BE ADVISED if you are arriving home during these hours that there are many very excited children running through the neighborhoods and crossing the streets. Please drive accordingly. If you are new to the area – ask you neighbors what to expect for the number of visitors. On a good weather night we have had in excess of 400 trick or treaters!
Median Beautification Continues
A huge thank you goes out to Dwight and Liz McBride and the median committee and to Andrew Heminger for their work on the installation! HHCA Makes a Difference!
North Street Park
GOOD NEWS Continues. I have just received news from Newark City Grant Writer Barbara Gilkes – that as of the first of the year the City of Newark Parks Department will purchase an additional swing set to be installed by the city at North Street Park. It will have at least 1 more toddler swing. This is great news for parents with more than one toddler. 2 can swing at the same time!!
Sometimes you see a paint job on a house that strikes you as stunning. My complements to Steve and Faye Hayes for their choice of colors.
HHCA Progressive Dinner (first in several years!!!)
was a beautiful and tasty event. About 30 neighbors were involved in the August 27 Progressive Dinner. There were 4 host homes and many contributors who created dishes for each stop. The evening started with Hors D’oeuvres at the Ginns (Daren and Monica). The setting was beautiful and the food and drinks bountiful. Two remarks I overheard: “They set the bar high” (pun intended as there was an actual bar with their sons serving as bar tenders) and “we could just spend the night here” – there was no shortage of delicious food. As we were on a schedule – we stuck with the schedule and walked a few doors up the street to Jose Cabral’s beautiful home for salads. There were many delightful fresh salads and a very comfortable spacious rooms were set to enjoy them. Jose has completed several refurbishing projects and it was impressive to see the end results.
After a relaxing visit at Jose’s home it was time to move on to the main course at Greg and Penny Grisanti’s home. Feeding a crew this size takes lots of prep and planning and these hosts were ready. Melt in your mouth pulled pork with all the trimmings. Eat Drink and be merry! To add to the event Spike and Molly Mae had the opportunity to make friends with their guests. These 2 were exceptionally affectionate and well behaved. A great visit and we were once again fed like royalty…. just as you are sinking into a new comfort zone with so many nice people to talk with…. It’s time to stay on schedule… Off to Dwight and Liz McBride’s for a twilight dessert. When we arrived (keep in mind about 30 of us) we are
welcomed in the front door into the grand entrance way. Not much time to take in all the beautiful woodwork and lighting without holding up the group … so into the dining room we go. Desserts are everywhere (but as they say on TV) wait-wait there’s more! Out the kitchen back door is still another setting of tables, outdoor lighting and more desserts…lots more
… including a chocolate fountain… thank God we didn’t start here. We ate, sat down with old friends, and new friends we just made and welcomed the night ambiance. The perfect end to a perfect night.
HHCA supports many other organization in Newark… not the least of which is the Licking County Historical Society…. A group that preserves our local history. Many HHCA members are closely associated with LCHS and volunteer to assist them in many of their endeavors. One of their very popular events is the “Graveyard Walk” – a historical tour annually held at Cedar Hill Cemetery. This year Friday September 16, was a banner year for the event. The Parks and Cemetery leaders Jeff Hotchkiss and Chance Patznick (whom we work with hand in hand at North Street Park), our Mayor Jeff Hall, Newark Downtown Library Historian Doug Stout (who presented us with the Bomber Crash on Hudson Ave program and is working to get the event memorialized) and the Executive Director of the LCHS, Howard Long planned a program to feature many of Newark’s Civil War Veterans buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery. The event features local actors dressed in period uniforms bringing to life the accomplishments and past history through a talk given to the group as they walked to the gravesites. The actors were well chosen and were well prepared to share the life of the person they portrayed. The stories were incredibly interesting as you heard from soldiers, a general, a doctor and a judge. You learned how tragic this war was through the eyes of local people. You learned of the hardships, dedication, suffering, determination and the victory. You learned of the many battles (famous battles) these men were a part of and how proud they were to be part of the Licking County regiment.
One of our HHCA members the Honorable Tim Gartner – portrayed the prominent Judge Woods.
If any HHCA members/residents wish to volunteer for projects at the LCHS. Let me know and I can put you in touch with them. Just bounce back to me (Bob Meldahl) with an email.