Elliott Park Hosts Grand Opening

More than 70 people volunteered to ready the newly refurbished Elliott Park for its grand opening on Nov. 21. The morning weather was glorious, and the final massive mulch pile was completely distributed by lunchtime. By 3 p.m., despite the misting rain, the playground was covered with gleeful children clambering around on the new equipment. 

Tom Adamson and Chris Crigger added much joy to an already delightful afternoon with their wonderful selection of adult- and kid-friendly tunes, and the Shenanigans Food Truck was on hand to keep everyone fed. 

As umbrellas popped up, Sewanee Civic Association (SCA) board member Elizabeth Duncan gave a quick welcome to the crowd and thanked the many individuals and groups who helped make the new park possible. She made special mention of Emily Puckette who, as a member of the SCA Parks Committee, was truly the individual who instigated the overall process. Her enthusiasm and work on the front end provided the strong path to see the project to fruition. 

She also mentioned David Hill at Gametime, Inc., who worked diligently to keep the overall cost affordable, and Greg Connex, who installed the equipment. Duncan noted that the beauty of the park would not have been possible without the partnership between the SCA and the University of the South, which undertook all of the site preparation and hired American Contractors to build the beautiful sandstone wall. 

Duncan then introduced University Vice-Chancellor John McCardell and Provost John Swallow, who spoke eloquently of relationships and committed community leadership. He thanked Duncan, SCA past president, and Kiki Beavers, current president, for their dedication to the mission of the SCA. McCardell and Beavers officially cut the ribbon to open the playground, which was already well in use. 

Elliott Park Opens With Saturday Work Day

The new playground at Elliott Park is almost complete. Please mark your calendars for the volunteer work day, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Saturday, Nov. 21. Volunteers (and wheelbarrows, rakes, shovels and pitchforks) are needed; go to the website <www.signupgenius.com> if you would like to help. Use the email “eduncan@sasweb.org” to find the event. 

After the required fiber mulch is spread, opening festivities will start at 3 p.m., with live music and the Shenanigans food truck. All are welcome to join the celebration as Sewanee’s second community park becomes a reality. 

While it is very exciting to see the area take shape, it will not be until Saturday, Nov. 21, that anyone will be allowed on the equipment. For safety and liability, the community is advised to not enter the playground until it officially opens. 

Elliott Park Playground Installation Has Begun :: Park Opens With Work Day on Nov. 21

The materials began arriving on Nov. 10, and Gametime, Inc. has started the assembly process for the new playground at Elliott Park. 

While it is very exciting to see the area take shape, it will not be until Saturday, Nov. 21, that anyone will be allowed on the equipment. For safety and liability, the community is advised to not enter the playground until it officially opens. 

Please mark your calendars for the volunteer work day, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Saturday, Nov. 21. Volunteers (and wheelbarrows, rakes, shovels and pitchforks) are needed; go to the website <www.signupgenius.com> if you would like to help. Use the email “eduncan@sasweb.org” to find the event. 

After the required fiber mulch is spread, opening festivities will start at 3 p.m., with live music and the Shenanigans food truck. All are welcome to join the celebration as Sewanee’s second community park becomes a reality. 

Elliott Park Ground- Breaking & Work Day

A special community work day to install the required surface material to complete the new playground at Elliott Park, will begin at 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 7. This will be followed by a grand opening of the renovated Elliott Park, with a celebration and ribbon cutting. 

The Sewanee Civic Association (SCA), in partnership with the University of the South, has brought to completion the second project in the Sewanee community parks system. The Phil White Dog Park was the first park that SCA sponsored in the community.

The community, along with the South Cumberland Community Fund, the Sewanee Community Council Funding Project, the Kaj Krogstad Memorial Fund, the Joel and Trudy Cunningham Charitable Fund, the Monteagle Sewanee Rotary and donations through a designated fund with the Sewanee Community Chest, donated more than $56,000 to purchase and install the new playground equipment, which is located in Elliott Park on University Avenue adjacent to the bookstore.

The mulch-like fiber surface material needs to be installed; community members are asked to sign up for shifts, as well as bring wheelbarrows, rakes and pitchforks to lend for the event. 

Volunteers should wear gloves and closed-toe shoes when working and children are welcome to participate. Snacks and beverages will be provided during the four hours. Volunteers are asked to sign up via the Sign Up Genius form at <www.signupgenius.com>; click Find A Sign Up and search using the volunteer coordinator email address <eduncan@sasweb.org>.

A minimum of 50 volunteers will be needed during the course of the day in order to spread the fiber material throughout the playground. Students from the College, St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School and Boy Scout Troop 14 have been invited to participate, as well, to help complete the task.

The phrase “The more the merrier” could never be more true.

The celebratory festivities to honor the park’s opening will begin at 5 p.m., with live music from Sewanee’s The Hill Brothers Band featuring Paul Schutz, Tom Adamson and Chris Crigger. 

The Shenanigans Food Truck will be on hand, and everyone is invited to bring a blanket and picnic dinner if they choose to enjoy the first day of the new Elliott Park. 

Civic Association Gets Updates on Projects :: Barry Offers Advice on Beating the Winter Blues

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the Oct. 14 dinner meeting of the Sewanee Civic Association, members and guests received promising updates on the Elliott Park Playground and the 2015–16 Community Chest Fund Drive. Following the business meeting, certified dietician Jade McBee Barry offered advice on how to beat the winter blues.

Civic Association President Kiki Beavers announced the organization successfully raised the $57,000 needed for construction of the Elliott Park playground, making a loan from the Opportunity Fund unnecessary.

“We now own the playground equipment,” Beavers said, congratulating the membership. Offering a historical footnote she said the Civic Association at one time owned Sewanee Elementary School, another community project funded by the organization

Parks Committee Chair Stephen Burnett said heavy rain and removing abandoned data and phone lines from the site had slowed progress, but construction of the park was well underway. At a community build scheduled for Nov. 7, volunteers will spread mulch and wood chips. Those wanting to help should bring pitchforks and shovels. University Physical Plant Services will provide a tractor and blade to help facilitate moving the material.

Reporting on the Community Chest fund drive, co-chair Elizabeth Clark Duncan said $4,300 had already been raised toward the $100,000 goal. Plans call for sending out more than 4,000 letters, asking area residents to contribute to the Chest which funds an array of area programs, with the majority youth-oriented. 

“We want to increase the donor base so we can increase the amount we give in gifts,” Duncan said. Last year only 10 percent of letter recipients made donations, with the entire Community Chest funded by just 310 contributors. Send donations to Sewanee Community Chest, P.O. Box 99, Sewanee, TN 37375.

Certified dietician Jade McBee Barry offered smart insight into why so many people suffer from the winter blues and how to avoid slipping into depression.

Lack of sunlight, high-carbohydrate and high-calorie foods, and a sedentary lifestyle combine to cause depression during the winter months, Barry said. Less sunlight leads to lower levels of vitamin D, necessary for mood balance, and to higher levels of the hormone melatonin, resulting in lower energy. 

And while the sweet and high-carbohydrate foods popular during the holidays activate reward centers in the brain, making us happy, she said, the holiday overstimulation causes a loss of reward receptors, so fewer feel-good neurochemicals get to where they need to go to work their magic. The third culprit, Barry said, is sitting more during the winter months. The body draws less fat from the blood for use as fuel with the unhappy consequences of weight gain and, even worse, heart disease.

Barry recommended taking a vitamin supplement if one’s vitamin D level is below 30 ng/ml, standing instead of sitting, and walking 10,000 steps a day. She also offered a number of tips for making healthy eating choices: focus on whole foods, keep convenience foods out of the house, limit yourself to a three-bite sample of dessert, and at holiday gatherings don’t eat the non-homemade offerings. Barry’s number one rule for the grocery store: shop the perimeters, where the shelves are stocked with fresh and unprocessed foods.

The Civic Association meets next on Nov. 18.

Fund-Raising Complete for Elliott Park Playground Project :: University and Civic Association Sign Memo of Understanding

Thanks to the generosity of our community, the Sewanee Civic Association has raised the full cost of the Elliott Park playground equipment, as of Oct. 1. More than $56,500 has been donated or pledged for the project. 

University Provost John Swallow and Sewanee Civic Association (SCA) president Kiki Beavers met on Sept. 30 and signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the Elliott Park Playground Project. 

Recognizing the need for renovation of the Elliott Park playground, the SCA identified the project as a community priority and the University of the South offered to help with site preparation and construction. 

“This is an important partnership between the SCA and the University of the South to benefit the community,” said Beavers. “The five-year MOU clearly identifies the separate responsibilities of the Civic Association and the University.”

She added, “This is a reminder Sewanee is a place where families live and are valued.”

Major funders include the South Cumberland Community Fund, the Sewanee Community Council Funding Project, the Kaj Krogstad Memorial Fund, the Joel and Trudy Cunningham Charitable Fund, and donations through a designated fund with the Sewanee Community Chest. Community families had a lemonade stand and bake sale fund-raiser for the project in late August that raised $1,670. 

Located on University Avenue in the center of campus near All Saints’ Chapel and the University Book and Supply Store, the new Elliott Park playground will include a balance beam, bridge, climbing structures, swing sets, spinning elements and a musical component. The park will be accessible for all children and will incorporate local and natural materials. 

In addition to securing funding for the purchase of the equipment and installation, SCA will be the point of contact for complaints; secure and maintain safety certificates with GameTime, the playground equipment manufacturer; and under GameTime’s supervision, oversee the community-build portion of the construction and installation.

Under the agreement, the University is responsible for site preparation and drainage; accessibility and improving parking facilities; and the cost of moving and or replacing the playground equipment if the site is needed for other purposes. Site preparation began in September. Organizers hope that the playground will be delivered later this month. There will be time during this process for community participation in the playground’s installation. 

Council Learns About “Trial” Crossing Lights :: County Studied Traffic Flow Before Installation

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

Joe David McBee, Franklin County highway commissioner, told the Sewanee Community Council that the new crosswalks and lights in downtown area are “a trial” at their meeting on Aug. 31. 

“The crosswalks are a trial, but we hope they will be permanent,” McBee said. McBee attended the meeting to address the concerns in response to the two crosswalks and the solar warning lights installed in mid-July, one on University Avenue at the Blue Chair and Angel Park, and the other on Ball Park Road next to the Senior Citizens’ Center. The push-button style crosswalk warning lights were installed after traffic flow studies and two years of research by the Franklin County Highway Commission, McBee said.

On behalf of the Sewanee Business Alliance, council member Theresa Shackelford brought the need for a crosswalk in the Angel Park area to the council’s attention in June of 2014. Police Chief Marie Eldridge concurred, saying street-side parking posed hazards for pedestrians. After considering options, the council voted to approve a raised crosswalk and asked Eldridge to communicate the request to the highway commission.

The installation of the crosswalks and their accompanying warning lights came as a surprise to the council and the community when they were installed in July.

“Council members were at a loss to explain [to constituents] where the crosswalks came from and why,” Vice-Chancellor John McCardell said.

McBee said the Highway Department rejected the request for a raised crosswalk due to the difficulty of snow removal and the hazard to bicyclists. Stressing the need for the crosswalks, McBee said research and traffic flow studies showed motorists did not stop for pedestrians in these two locations, street-side parking often made it impossible to see children crossing, and motorists tended to speed in the area. The highway commission chose not to include an audible warning device on the crosswalks because of possible disturbance to people dining outside.

McBee said other options were considered, but the discussion and decision-making process did not take place at the public highway commission meetings.

“We want to be involved in discussions before decisions are made,” McCardell said, echoing the frustration of many council members. McBee agreed and said, “I think communication should be better.”

Highway superintendent Johnny Woodall brought to the council’s attention that many crosswalks in Sewanee were not marked with the regulation signage and had not been approved by the Highway Commission.

In 1969, the Franklin County Commission designated all roads in Sewanee as county roads, McBee said, making the county responsible for their maintenance. All signage, crosswalks and other highway markings must meet county regulations and be approved by the county. The county does not maintain and regulate roads in the incorporated communities of Cowan, Decherd and Winchester, McBee said.

Forty-eight community members have contacted McBee about the crosswalks, with only eight residents raising strong objections, he said. Some parents expressed concern the button was too high for small children to reach. State guidelines determine the height, McBee said, and smaller children should be accompanied by adults. Similarly, the button height meets compliance guidelines for ease of use by people in wheelchairs.

Council representative Barbara Schlichting asked if a “smaller, less obtrusive” design was an option, voicing a frequently overheard community complaint.

Woodall replied signage needed to be at least 30 inches by 30 inches to meet state statutes, and there were also concerns about motorists colliding with and destroying less sturdy signs. 

McCardell asked for details about how long the crosswalk trial period would last, what was being tested and on what basis would it be evaluated.

McBee said a one-year trial was planned, and he intended to revisit the issue with the council in a year to determine the community’s response.

“I don’t think anyone objects to the crosswalks,” McCardell said. “It’s an aesthetic discussion.”

McCardell encouraged residents to communicate their views through their council representatives and to the Sewanee Mountain Messenger. “This is the beginning rather than the end of a public discussion,” he said.

In other business, the council voted to appoint Pam Byerly and Dennis Meeks as Lease Committee representatives.

Responding to a question about the traffic roundabout proposed for the intersection of University Avenue and Highway 41A, Michael Gardner, director of physical plant services, said plans were “heading away from a roundabout to a simplified intersection. The state wants to keep traffic moving.” Although referred to as Highway 41A, the main highway passing through Sewanee is actually State Route 15, so it is subject to state regulation.

Schlichting reminded council representatives of the meeting with the Trustees Community Relations Committee on Oct. 14 and encouraged council representatives to be in communication with constituents so they could convey any community concerns. A community meet and greet will follow.

The council meets next on Oct. 19.

Civic Assn. Approves Elliott Park Agreement

$21,000 Remains to be Raised before Sept. 30

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the special called meeting on Aug. 26, the Sewanee Civic Association (SCA) overwhelmingly voted to approve the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Civic Association and the University of the South for the Elliott Park playground. Recognizing the need for renovation of the Elliott Park playground, the Civic Association Parks Committee identified the project as a community priority in early 2013. The park, which had a long history of community support, had fallen into disrepair.

Located on University Avenue in the center of campus near All Saints’ Chapel and the University Book and Supply Store, the new Elliott park playground will include a balance beam, bridge, climbing structures, swing sets, spinning elements and a musical component. The park will be accessible for all children and will incorporate local and natural materials. 

“This is an important partnership between the SCA and the University of the South to benefit the community,” said Kiki Beavers, SCA president. “The five-year MOU clearly identifies the separate responsibilities of the Civic Association and the University.”

The Civic Association will secure funding for the purchase of the playground equipment and installation; inspect the boundary and notify physical plant services if action is needed; be the point of contact for complaints; secure and maintain safety certificates with GameTime, the playground equipment manufacturer; and under GameTime’s supervision, oversee the community build portion of the construction and installation.

The University will be responsible for site preparation and drainage; accessibility and improving parking facilities; and the cost of moving and or replacing the playground equipment if the site is needed for other purposes. 

In response to a question about the location of the playground, Provost John Swallow said, “Yes, there is a planning document that shows a new library in that location. But since that building has a $50 million price tag, I don’t see it happening any time soon.” 

The issue of insurance, Beavers said, was still under discussion, but was important to both the Civic Association and the University.

The Civic Association must raise $21,241 by Sept. 30 for the playground. To date, $43,759 of the playground’s cost of $65,000 has been raised. Major funders include the South Cumberland Community Fund, the Sewanee Community Council Funding Project, the Kaj Krogstad Memorial Fund, the Joel and Trudy Cunningham Charitable Fund, and donations through a designated fund with the Sewanee Community Chest.

“If everyone living in Sewanee gave $10, we’d be finished,” Beavers said, encouraging community members to step forward and make a contribution to a project that will benefit Sewanee residents.

The Civic Association has a number of grant proposals pending. Beavers said other possible sources of support for the final funds are the Community Chest Opportunity Fund and financing through GameTime. Civic Association attorneys are still reviewing the MOU. The vote of approval granted Beavers power to approve the final document at her discretion.

Site preparation is slated to begin in September. Organizers hope that the playground will be delivered in mid-October. There will be time during this process for community participation in the playground’s installation. 

Civic Association Calls Special Meeting on Elliott Park for Wednesday

A special called business meeting for the Sewanee Civic Association (SCA) will be held at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 26, in St. Mark’s Hall, Claiborne House, at Otey Parish. 

The meeting will consist of discussing and voting on a memorandum of understanding between the Civic Association and the University of the South for the Elliott Park playground. Specific details include a five-year term for the agreement, site preparation, installation and contingency planning, should the site be needed for other purposes.

The memorandum of understanding with the University also addresses issues such as maintenance, drainage control and parking lot improvements. The SCA Parks Committee will be the point of contact for Elliott Park moving forward. This project will be a collaborative effort with the University’s Physical Plant Services, neighboring organizations and community volunteers to maintain and enhance the park, creating a sense of ownership to ensure the long-term care and upkeep of this important part of the community.

The plans for redeveloping Elliott Park include swing sets, a balance beam, bridge, climbing structures, spinning elements and a musical component. Other criteria met by the approved design include use of natural and local materials. The park will be Americans with Disabilities Act compliant and accessible, with access ramps at the adjoining sidewalk and parking lot. 

Originally designated in 1870, Elliott Park has a history of community support with much of its playground equipment built by the community or purchased with donations. A swing set, chin-up bars, wooden step structure, and sandbox (now removed) were installed under the leadership of Sandy Baird and Yolande Gottfried in the 1980s. In 1998, community member Dana Lesesne spearheaded the addition of a pirate ship constructed by the Sewanee chapter of Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji), with support from various sources, including the Kaj Krogstad Memorial Fund. 

In 2012, several wooden play elements were in disrepair and removed from Elliott Park, leaving behind little more than an aging swing set in what was once a vibrant place for the children to play. 

The For the Parks project will benefit the whole community and its many visitors by reminding all  that Sewanee is not only a place where families live, but is a place where families are valued.

For more information go to <www.sewaneecivic.wordpress.com>.

Elliott Park Playground Project Deadline Nears

Fifteen years ago, Elliott Park was the place where schoolchildren and families gathered for play dates, birthday parties and Saturday afternoon get-togethers. There were swings, climbing structures, a sand box and many other age-appropriate and safe places to play at this park, open to all.

But Elliott Park has fallen into disrepair; most of the equipment has been removed, and little of the park remains. There is no community playground in Sewanee. Seeing this problem, the Sewanee Civic Association (SCA) began its For the Parks campaign.

The For the Parks campaign needs approximately $36,000 to reach its goal for the Elliott Park playground equipment and installation project. To date, $29,000 has been raised for the project, including major support from the Sewanee Community Council Funding Project, the South Cumberland Community Fund and the Kaj Krogstad Memorial Fund. The deadline to raise the funds is Sept. 30.

Elliott Park is a prime location as a central playground and meeting place for families—an outdoor space where members from across the community can connect. Located adjacent to University Avenue near the Book and Supply Store, All Saints’ Chapel and the center of the University campus, it is the place where a playground can be created again for children of all ages, and provide a place for newcomers to meet others, fostering a sense of community.

The plans for redeveloping Elliott Park include swing sets, a balance beam, bridge, climbing structures, spinning elements and a musical component. The approved design also includes use of natural and local materials. The park will be ADA-compliant and accessible, with access ramps at the adjoining sidewalk and parking lot. 

Originally designated in 1870, Elliott Park has a history of community support with much of its playground equipment built by the community or purchased with donations. A swing set, chin-up bars, wooden step structure, and sand box (now removed) were installed under the leadership of Sandy Baird and Yolande Gottfried in the 1980s. In 1998, community member Dana Lesesne spearheaded the addition of a pirate ship constructed by the Sewanee chapter of Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji), with support from various sources, including the Kaj Krogstad Memorial Fund. 

In 2012, several wooden play elements were in disrepair and removed from Elliott Park, leaving behind little more than an aging swing set in what was once a vibrant place for children to play. 

The SCA is working on the next chapter of this community-supported park. The goal of the SCA is to help improve municipal conditions and equipment, and raise money the town cannot raise in taxes because it is unincorporated. Since Sewanee is unincorporated, it does not qualify for many state and federal grants that municipalities rely on for projects such as playgrounds, parks and community development. The community, and the Civic Association, have a long history of identifying needs, raising the necessary money, and building projects needed by the community. 

The SCA will enter into a memorandum of understanding with the University of the South concerning maintenance, drainage control and parking lot improvements, and contingency planning for the equipment should the University ever need to relocate the playground. The SCA Parks Committee will be the point of contact for Elliott Park moving forward. This project will be a collaborative effort with the University’s Physical Plant Services, neighboring organizations, and community volunteers to maintain and enhance the park, creating a sense of ownership to ensure the long-term care and upkeep of this important part of the community. 

The For the Parks project will benefit the whole community and our many visitors by reminding us that Sewanee is not only a place where families live, but is a place where families are valued. 

To make a donation, send a check payable to SCA For the Parks, P.O. Box 222, Sewanee, TN 37375. All money raised will go through a designated fund with the Sewanee Community Chest, a 501(c) 3 organization and are tax deductible. There is an online campaign to use a credit card at gofundme.com/fortheparks. 

The SCA is the managing organization of For the Parks, the Sewanee Classifieds and the Sewanee Community Chest, and the sponsoring organization for Cub Scout Pack 152.

For more information or to volunteer, contact <fortheparks@gmail.com>, or go to <www.sewaneecivic.wordpress.com>.

South Cumberland Community Fund Announces 2015 Grants

New park facilities, a walking path and a community garden for the Grundy County Jail are among the projects being funded by the 2015 grants awarded by the South Cumberland Community Fund (SCCF). 

“Since 2012, one of our core missions has been to cultivate resources by supporting nonprofit organizations across the Plateau,” said Margaret Woods, board president of the Community Fund. “We are thrilled with this newest series of projects, which create opportunities for our youth, build new community spaces and expand local support services for our communities.” 

There will be a reception at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 2, in St. Mark’s Hall, in Claiborne Parish House at Otey Church in Sewanee to celebrate the new grant recipients and to thank the AmeriCorps VISTA members and volunteers.

The City of Coalmont, thanks to a group of volunteers led by Jeff Sholey working in partnership with county government and the South Cumberland Community Fund, now enjoys a public park on the shore of Big Creek Lake. The park was built in 2013 on county-owned land that had not been developed or maintained for recreational uses. The subsequent popularity of the park for families in the area has led to plans to add a 4,000-foot gravel walking trail. The SCCF grant of $10,000 will support the construction of the trail, which is expected to increase community access to safe areas for healthy exercise.

The City of Palmer has a town center where a public park, a museum of mining, the seat of government and the public school are all in close proximity.The park has many features, but lacks a restroom. In cooperation with the Conservation Committee of Grundy County and with the support of a $10,000 grant from SCCF, the community of Palmer will construct an ADA-accessible restroom to serve the park patrons and will extend the uses of the park.

The Grundy County Sheriff’s office, with the assistance of this $9,500 grant from the Community Fund, will construct a greenhouse and raised garden beds. Inmates, jail administrators, youth probationers and the community will maintain the garden and greenhouse, and food grown there will feed the inmates and be shared with the community. Taking care of the mini-farm will be a daily chore for inmates, who will receive training from community partners in planting and storing food. 

The Grundy County Historical Society library and research center holds approximately 1,600 books, photographs, albums and newsletters, as well as thousands of loose historical documents that date as far back as the 1840s, including volumes of records pertaining to the coal, iron/steel, and railroad industries of the region. SCCF’s grant of $7,406 will enable the Historical Society to purchase library software to identify, organize and improve public access to its holdings. In addition, the grant will support the temporary employment of a professional librarian to implement the project and train voluntary staff in managing the Society’s records and special collections in the future.

North Elementary School, operating under the auspices of the Grundy County Board of Education, is working to make its gymnasium a more effective venue for multi-media presentations, programs, assemblies and sporting events. Lacking an auditorium, the gymnasium is the only setting for a variety of school-related and community presentations. The configuration of the gym with side seating makes it difficult for the audience to see and hear many such programs. With this Community Fund grant of $10,000, the school will purchase two automated projection screens, two wireless projectors and the hardware to operate them. In addition, new microphones and speakers will be purchased to upgrade the school’s public address system.

Palmer Elementary School, one of seven public elementary schools in Grundy County, was built in 1927. It is one of only two schools with both a gymnasium and an auditorium. This SCCF grant of $1,600 will enable the school to replace its 15-year-old public address system with Bluetooth and wireless technology to serve both venues. The school has more than 75 events (such as sporting events, spelling bees and holiday programs) during the year, in addition to daily assemblies. The completion of the $2,000 project will be made possible by additional investments by the town and the school, plus local business and individual contributors.

Miracle on the Mountain Play Outside Park (MOM POP) is a year-old organization formed to create a major public recreation area with special emphasis on children with special needs in Grundy and surrounding counties. The park will be constructed on 14 acres located on Highway 108 across from the high school, on land which will be leased from the county. This grant of $10,000 from SCCF will be applied toward the $51,900 cost of Phase I, which will include parking and roadway access, restrooms and a concession stand, an amphitheater, and paved pathways to make the entire area ADA-compliant.

Mountain Heritage Preservation Society was established to educate the community, especially its children, about the unique cultural heritage they inherit from growing up on the Cumberland Plateau. The hope is that people will be strengthened by an understanding of and loyalty to that heritage. The Preservation Society is best known for the annual Mountaineers Day Festival, but the organization is broadly committed to advancing the welfare of Mountain communities. This SCCF grant of $10,000 will enable the Society to partner with the local baseball/softball organization in the construction of batting cages at the current ballfield in Tracy City. The organizers of baseball/softball have renewed energy and stability, and will seek further upgrades and expansion of the facilities in coming years.

Mountain T.O.P. is a 40-year-old, interdenominational ministry dedicated to addressing issues of poverty in the rural Cumberland region. The organization has drawn upon a culture of faith-based social commitment to recruit individuals, families and church groups to work on projects that meet the social, emotional, physical and spiritual needs of area residents. The projects are usually organized around the repair of homes and the operation of day camps for children and youth on the Plateau. The Adventure Guild in Chattanooga has assisted Mountain T.O.P. in the construction and operation of two challenge courses (a low and a high ropes course) on the Altamont campus. The Adventure Guild has given the courses to Mountain T.O.P. With this grant of $8,009 from the Community Fund, the organization will purchase equipment and do training for its staff for the ongoing operation of the courses. It is expected that the new arrangement will be more efficient and help Mountain T.O.P. recruit additional retreat groups that are attracted to the area’s wilderness hiking and camping resources.

The Sewanee Children’s Center is a preschool operated by a parents’ cooperative to provide early learning experiences in a full-day program to children ages 2 to 5. The Center also provides after-school care for preschoolers and children through 8 years of age. Under the leadership of new director Harriet Runkle, the SCC has planned a school/community garden to serve as an outdoor classroom to teach students gardening skills, healthy eating habits, life cycles of plants and animals, and good stewardship of natural resources. Produce will be shared with the Community Action Center and used for special events at Otey Parish. This SCCF grant of $9,587 will enable the construction of the 40-foot by 60-foot garden, including a deer-proof fence.

Sewanee Community Chest, organized by the long-standing Sewanee Civic Association (SCA), has raised a million dollars in the last decade to support local organizations serving the public good. During its storied history, the SCA has advanced the welfare of the unincorporated community of Sewanee and the region around it through initiatives as diverse as building the public elementary school in Sewanee, completing a state highway to the Marion County line, and raising money for a black community center. The Parks Committee of SCA has proposed to restore Elliott Park on the campus of the University at a cost of $70,000. The park, open to the public, will have a rich assortment of features to promote physical adventures by children. The Community Chest will raise the funds as a special project; this grant of $10,000 from the Community Fund will be applied to the overall cost of the park. 

Earlier this year, the board of the Community Fund became aware of a plan to create a plateau-wide children’s choir to perform traditional Appalachian folk and gospel songs at the annual Trails and Trilliums spring festival produced by the Friends of South Cumberland State Park. This project was a perfect fit for the Paul S. McConnell Music Grant of $3,500, awarded to the South Cumberland Community Fund to support music programs in our region. The board reached out to the Friends group to offer support for the choir project. The presentation by 130 children in grades 4–8 from five elementary schools was one of the highlights of Trails and Trillium. The hope is that the choir will become an annual program.

Elliott Park Playground Fund Raising Begins

The Sewanee Civic Association (SCA) announces the beginning of the For the Parks fund raising campaign. Approximately $70,000 needs to be raised for the Elliott Park playground equipment and installation. 

Originally designated in 1870, Elliott Park has a history of community support with much of its playground equipment built by the community or purchased with donations. A swing set, chin-up bars, wooden step structure and sand box (since removed) were installed under the leadership of Sandy Baird and Yolande Gottfried in the 1980s. In 1998, community member Dana Lesesne spearheaded the addition of a pirate ship constructed by the Sewanee chapter of Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji), with support from various sources including the Kaj Krogstad Memorial Fund. 

In 2012, when several wooden play elements were in disrepair, the University removed the ship, cabin, play automobile and picnic table from Elliott Park leaving behind little more than an aging swing set in what was once a vibrant place for children to play. 

At its April 15 membership meeting, the SCA approved a design for the next chapter of this community park. The plans for Elliott Park include swing sets, a balance beam, bridge, climbing structures, spinning elements and a musical component. Other criteria met by the approved design include use of natural and local materials. The park will be ADA-compliant and accessible, with access ramps at the adjoining sidewalk and parking lot. The SCA will enter into a memorandum of understanding with the University concerning maintenance, drainage control and parking lot improvements, similar to the agreement used for the Phil White Dog Park.

Sewanee residents David and Robin Hille Michaels have agreed to be the For the Parks stewards and to help lead the fund-raising efforts. 

“The For the Parks project will benefit the whole community and our many visitors by reminding us that Sewanee is not only a place where families live, but it is a place where families are valued,” said David. “We hope you will join our community effort to reinvent Elliott Park.”

To make a donation send a check payable to SCA For the Parks, P.O. Box 222, Sewanee, TN 37375. Funds will go through the Sewanee Community Chest, a 501(c) 3 organization. The SCA is the managing organization for the Parks, the Sewanee Classifieds and the Sewanee Community Chest, and the sponsoring organization for Cub Scout Pack 152.

For more information or to volunteer email <fortheparks@gmail.com> or go to <www.sewaneecivic.wordpress.com>.

Dozier Honored for Community Service, Association Approves Elliott Park Plans

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the April 15 dinner meeting, the Sewanee Civic Association honored Pixie Dozier with the Community Service Award for her selfless and compassionate work on behalf of others, particularly her volunteer work with the Community Action Committee and other Sewanee organizations.

Surprised and pleased by the honor, Dozier said, “The CAC has been my main project for 35 years. We couldn’t do what we do without the support of the whole community.”

Dozier served as the board chair of the CAC for more than a decade, seeing the CAC through difficult times. She staffed the office, delivered food, visited CAC clients, organized volunteers and did whatever was needed to make sure that people in need were cared for in a loving and respectful way.

Dozier has also played a vital role in the Sewanee Woman’s Club, the Sewanee Garden Club, the Emerald-Hodgson Hospital Auxiliary, and was recently elected to serve a three-year term on the Sewanee Community Council.

During the business portion of the meeting, Civic Association President Kiki Beavers thanked Community Chest fund drive chairs Marilyn and Tom Phelps. The fund drive surpassed the $106,000 goal, raising a total of $106,352.

The Civic Association elected the following officers for the 2015–16 academic year: Kiki Beavers, president; Lynn Stubblefield, vice-president; Lisa Rung, treasurer; Cameron Swallow, secretary; Aaron Welch, member at large; Elizabeth Clark Duncan, director of Classifieds; and Stephen Burnett, Parks Committee chair.

A project of the Parks Committee for more than two years, the Elliott Park restoration reached a milestone with the members of the Civic Association approving a design with an estimated cost of $65,000.

The Parks Committee presented three designs for consideration. The recommended design approved by the organization includes swing sets, a balance beam, bridge, climbing structures (a mushroom and monkey bars), spinning elements and a musical component.

Other criteria met by the approved design include use of natural and local materials. The retaining wall will use Sewanee stone.

The less costly design option, $50,000, used substantially more plastic and metal in play elements. The more costly option, $76,000, included more play elements.

The park will be ADA compliant and accessible, with access ramps at the adjoining sidewalk and parking lot.

Plans call for a community build in September with the designer, GameTime, overseeing the work.

University Physical Plant Services (PPS) has verbally agreed to “light maintenance” once the park is completed, Burnett said. The Parks Committee plans to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University to define ownership and maintenance responsibilities. Once drawn up, the MOU will be presented to the Civic Association membership for review.

Burnett thanked PPS for their ongoing help with site preparation and design considerations. He also thanked the Sewanee Community Council, which recently awarded the project $5,000 for playground equipment.

With a design approved, fund-raising will begin. Burnett estimated the final cost at $70,000, naming several unbudgeted expenses: base material, retaining walls, drainage and ADA access ramping.

Civic Association Hosts Last Meeting of Spring :: Will Present Service Award, Vote on Playground Plans

The last meeting of the Easter semester for the Sewanee Civic Association (SCA) will be held Wednesday, April 15, at the EQB House.

The program will be the presentation of the 31st annual Community Service Award. Past recipients include Helen Bailey, Sewanee Youth Soccer, Dr. Matt Petrilla, Harry and Jean Yeatman, Marshall Hawkins, Karen Keele and Tom Watson.

The business portion of the meeting will include the election of officers for 2015–16, discussion of the 2015–16 budget and voting on the proposed plans for a new playground in Elliott Park.

Social time with wine begins at 6 p.m., and dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. The business meeting begins at 7 p.m. The program portion of the evening is free and open to the public. Dinner is available for $13 per person.

Sewanee Civic Association brings together community members for social and community awareness. The SCA is the sponsoring organization for the Parks Committee, Cub Scout Pack 152, Sewanee Classifieds and the Sewanee Community Chest. Any adult who resides in the area and shares concerns of the community is invited to attend and become a member.

For more information go to <www.sewaneecivic.wordpress.com>.

Seven Projects Awarded Funding by Sewanee Community Council

At the March 21 meeting, the Sewanee Community Council voted to allocate $9,975 to fund seven community enhancement projects. The Sewanee Community Funding Project Committee, chaired by Sarah Marhevsky, reviewed 18 proposals, as well as “half a dozen informal suggestions” before reaching a decision about which projects to recommend for funding. 

“We’re grateful to everyone who submitted ideas,” Marhevsky said. In assessing proposals, the committee took into account community impact, need, cost and sustainability.

The committee recommended and the council approved the following projects for funding.

The Elliott Park playground rebuild, a project of the Sewanee Civic Association, was awarded $5,000 to improve Elliott Park using GameTime Playground Design’s play structure and installation. Civic Association Parks Committee Chair Stephen Burnett requested $7,500; the full cost of this portion of the project will total more than $60,000.

The Sewanee Dog Pound was awarded a $2,000 grant to improve its facilities. Applying on behalf of numerous like-minded community supporters, Lynn Vogel submitted the proposal for the pound, which houses dogs near the Equestrian Center. Plans call for installing K9 Kennel Store’s Pro Line Kennels to help maintenance, safety and sanitation. The pound has not had substantive updates since its creation in the early 1990s. Vogel requested $8,000.

Thurmond Library was awarded $1,000 to outfit its new space in the Otey Parish Claiborne House with equipment and furnishings that will make it  attractive, well-stocked, comfortable and electronically up-to-date. Thurman Library board member Karen Keele drafted the application; Keele requested $5,000.

On behalf of the Sewanee Children’s Center, a proposal from the teachers, coordinated by Carrie Mauzy, was awarded $650 for the creation and installation of a Little Free Library in the Sewanee village that will be paired with a butterfly garden. This project will involve both SCC children and the community. The center received the full amount of its request.

The Sewanee Community Center was awarded $610 to turn an under-utilized room into communal space for a variety of community uses, including small group meetings, classes and counseling sessions. Center Manager Rachel Petropolous drafted the proposal. The center was awarded the full amount of its request.

Michelle Calhoun, applying on behalf of the “Moms’ Group,” was awarded $515.95 for a special needs swing for a boy in the community. Physical Plant Services has agreed to install the swing at the Woodlands playground. 

Caroline Hiers was awarded $200 for the completion of her Girl Scout Silver Award Project, which will provide structural and informational updates at the kiosks at the University gates, Morgan’s Steep and Green’s View. Hiers was awarded the full amount of her request. She will provide the labor, posthole digger and router.

“We’re excited about the wide range of things we could fund,” Marhevsky said.

In discussion about whether the council would reimburse the awardees after project completion or provide the funds up front, Vice Chancellor John McCardell suggested in cases where the council only agreed to fund a portion of the project, the funds could be provided at the point in the project implementation where the funds were needed.

Members of the Sewanee Community Funding Project Committee were selected by Vice-Chancellor John McCardell and provost John Swallow. In addition to Marhevsky, the committee included Annie Armour, Pixie Dozier, Michael Hurst, Dennis Meeks, Theresa Shackelford, Sarah Sherwood and Adam Tucker. Armour, Dozier, Hurst, Meeks and Shackelford also serve on the Community Council.

—Reported by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

Civic Association Learns Ways to Save Resources

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

Representatives from the Sewanee Utility District, Elk River Public Utility District and Duck River Electric Membership Corporation were on hand at the Nov. 19 Sewanee Civic Association dinner meeting to offer timely advice on how to save energy and water.

Sewanee Utility District (SUD) provides water for the mountaintop regions of Franklin and Marion counties. SUD manager Ben Beavers offered tips on how to keep water bills low. Simple things like turning off the water while you brush your teeth and limiting the time you spend in the shower can add up to huge savings, Beavers said. 

He recommended composting rather than using the disposal, using a rain barrel to catch water for gardens and yards, and running the dishwasher and clothes washer only when full. Dishwashers and clothes washers using far less water are now available, Beavers added. He suggested using unsweetened Kool Aid to check for a leaky toilet flapper: pour the colored drink mix in the tank and wait overnight to see if colored water seeped into the toilet bowl. If a leak exists, get it repaired.

In preparation for cold weather, Beavers advised insulating pipes and making sure the water was turned off and spray nozzle removed from outside garden hoses. A burst pipe or hose can leak eight to fifteen gallons per minute, costing the customer $11 or more per hour.

Elk River Public Utility District (ERPUD) is a nonprofit business that supplies natural gas to Franklin and Coffee counties. Marketing representative Levoid Baltimore said the present abundant supply of natural gas has some very positive consequences. 

ERPUD can buy one-third of its capacity in the summer when the cost is low and can lock in low prices with long-term contracts. On the commercial side, the low cost of natural gas is bringing companies that moved overseas back to the United States, creating jobs. Baltimore offered several tips for saving energy in the cold weather: set the thermostat lower; purchase a programmable thermostat that can be set to turn down the heat when no one is home; invest in energy-efficient windows and seal windows and doors with weatherstripping; install a dual-fuel heat pump; and buy energy-efficient appliances. A tankless water heater can save customers 30–50 percent on their natural gas bill. For customers struggling with paying their bill, financial assistance is available through numerous agencies, including South East Tennessee Human Resource Agency (SETHRA), Good Samaritan and the Salvation Army.

Duck River Electric Membership Corporation (DREMC) is a nonprofit, member-owned cooperative with more than 71,000 members in a six-county area. Patrick Hannah, manager of the Decherd/Sewanee district office, provided an overview of DREMC’s Beat the Peak program, designed to encourage customers to use less electricity during high-demand periods when the cost to DREMC is high. DREMC notifies participants of expected high-demand periods by text or e-mail, and the customer can take energy-saving measures like turning down thermostats. 

Another DREMC program offers customers an opportunity to buy shares in the DREMC Community Solar Farm. Participants’ electric bills are credited with a proportion of the solar farm’s production each month, with the initial investment recouped in 10–12 years. DREMC energy advisor Pat Garrett announced a new rebate program beginning Dec. 1 that will help customers recover the cost of making energy-saving home improvements and purchasing energy- efficient appliances. See details online at  <www.DREMC.com>.

In the business portion of the meeting, Civic Association President Kiki Beavers updated members on the Community Chest fund drive. Donations of $48,000 have been pledged toward the goal of $101,000.

Parks committee chair Stephen Burnett reported the committee had chosen a playground equipment company for the planned renovation of Elliott Park. The company is preparing a mock-up showing proposed equipment and facilities. 

The Civic Association’s next meeting is Dec. 17.

Civic Association Overview 2014–15

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

Enthusiasm was high at the Sept. 17 Sewanee Civic Association dinner meeting, the first meeting of the 2014–15 academic year. More than 40 members and guests turned out to hear updates on the Civic Association’s three main programs: the Classifieds email list, the SewaneeCommunity Chest and parks and playgrounds renovation project.

Classifieds manager Elizabeth Clark Duncan reminded the group that Civic Association members are automatically enrolled as Classifieds subscribers by paying their annual $10 dues. Others needing to renew their subscription are encouraged to use Pay Pal at the Civic Association website <www.sewaneecivic.wordpress.com>. Folks with overdue subscriptions will be alerted in the comings weeks; unpaid subscriptions will be deleted after the notice.

New subscribers can also request to join the group by following the website links. 

Duncan, who manages the list as a volunteer, spends 7–10 hours a week reviewing enrollment requests and email posts to prevent misuse of the service, intended as a way for community members to share information. The Civic Association board has been overseeing the list. Following the recommendation of board president Kiki Beavers, the membership voted to assign the responsibility to a committee composed of Duncan, Beavers, Aaron Welch and Alyssa Sumpter.

A local business owner asked that the rule allowing only three posts per week by businesses be relaxed. The membership will consider the request at the Oct. 15 meeting.

Marilyn and Tom Phelps will serve as Community Chest stewards for 2014–15. The Community Chest, which provides funding to help sustain community projects and programs, received 27 applications requesting a total of $128,000. The steering committee approved a goal of $101,000.

Parks and playgrounds committee chair Steve Burnett said based on a community survey last year, the committee identified three parks for renewal, Elliott Park, Woodlands Park and the ballpark. Renovation of Elliott Park is top on the list. The committee sent requests for proposals to four playground companies.

JoAnn McKiernan presented an overview of AngelFest, scheduled for 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., today (Friday) Sept. 26, at Angel Park in downtown Sewanee. University Avenue will be closed to traffic in the downtown area for the family-friendly event that is focused on kids and dogs. “Everything is free,” McKiernan said. Games include an inflatable obstacle course, treasure hunt, paw-print art, and canine musical chairs. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., the award-winning WannaBeatles will take the stage to perform Beatles-inspired music.

Sewanee-Monteagle Rotary President John Goodson encouraged the members of the Civic Association to support a Rotary-sponsored Walk-a-thon to benefit the Community Action Committee (CAC). Business owner and developer Goodson also serves on the Housing Sewanee board and through that affiliation became acquainted with the CAC, directed by Betty Carpenter. “Poverty here is overwhelming,” Goodson said. The CAC provides needy families with groceries and help paying utility bills. Goodson envisions walkers securing pledges for participating in the Walk-a-thon and hopes to raise $1,000 or more for the CAC. The event is tentatively planned for next spring.

At the Oct. 15 Civic Association meeting, Dixon Myers will talk about Housing Sewanee. 

Civic Assn. Learns about Mountain Goat Trail, Hears Updates on Community Parks Project

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the March 5 dinner meeting of the Sewanee Civic Association, members and guests heard updates on the Community Chest and parks programs. In their presentation on the Mountain Goat Trail, the featured speakers cited some impressive benefits to the community.

Reporting on the renovation of Elliott Park, Parks Committee chair Stephen Burnett said the request-for-information phase was nearly complete. Updating the Civic Association on the Dog Park, Phil White said the initiative was meeting all of its regular monthly bills, but donations were needed for the two shelters planned for the facility. The shelters will offer pet owners protection from rain and sun. Donations can be made at Southern Community Bank.

Patrick Dean and Janice Thomas, representing the Mountain Goat Trail Alliance (MGTA), provided an overview of the trail project which, when complete, will extend 32.5 miles from Cowan to Palmer, following the path of the Mountain Goat Railroad constructed in the 1850s to transport coal from the mountain to the valley.

Ten years ago, Sewanee teenager Ian Prunty launched the trail project, raising money for the first two-mile section on the Domain of the University of the South. Although the region offers many hiking trails, most are for the able-bodied. The paved, 10-footwide Mountain Goat Trail is unique for being accessible to people of all levels of ability.

For many years, the coal mining communities on the railroad route prospered, but when coal resources dwindled, the economies of the communities suffered greatly. 

Under the direction of Chip Manning with the Babson Center for Global Commerce, University students conducted an economic impact study which showed an 80 percent completed trail would bring $1.2 million annually to towns on the trail route, with the greatest benefit expected in the severely economically depressed Tracy City community.

The next phase, scheduled to begin this spring, will extend from St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School to Mountain Outfitters in Monteagle, with 80 percent of the funding coming from a Tennessee Department of Transportation grant. 

The MGTA has already purchased 60 percent of the property needed for the Monteagle to Tracy City leg, and favorable negotiations are underway with CSX Railroad ,which owns most of the former rail bed earmarked for the rest of the route.

Civic Association Hears Updates on Parks and Community Chest

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

Members and guests attending the Nov. 13 dinner meeting of the Sewanee Civic Association heard updates on the Community Chest fund drive, the historical marker commemorating the desegregation of Sewanee Elementary School and the renovation of Elliott Park. Robie Jackson, performing arts coordinator for St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School (SAS), gave a slide show presentation about the SAS Players’ summer trip to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. 

The Community Chest fund drive, sponsored by the Civic Association, has reached half of the $108,000 goal for the 2013–14 academic year. Civic Association Vice President Kiki Beavers stressed that every dollar donated to the Community Chest “stays here” and will help finance the needs of 28 area organizations and programs, if the goal is met.

The Civic Association has received approval from the Tennessee State Historical Commission for a historical marker to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the desegregation of Sewanee Elementary School (SES). The 1963 lawsuit brought by eight Sewanee families was unique for involving both black and white plaintiffs. The marker will be unveiled at a commemorative ceremony at 2 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 19, at SES. Elizabeth Clark Duncan and Cameron Swallow chair the planning committee and invite community involvement.

The marker was paid for with subscription fees to Sewanee Classifieds, a community email list sponsored by the Civic Association. To subscribe to Sewanee Classifieds ($10/annually) visit the Civic Association website, <sewaneecivic.wordpress.com>. For more information email <sewaneecivic@gmail.com>.

Board member Steve Burnett said the Parks Committee was researching playground equipment for the renovation of Elliott Park. The committee sent a  Request for Information to several playground equipment companies. Burnett received an inquiry about the disrepair of the grills in the pavilion at Lake Cheston. The grills have since been removed. Burnett will look into possible remedies.

SAS Performing Arts Coordinator Robie Jackson teaches theater to sixth- through twelfth-grade students. Jackson praised the SAS theater program for making it possible to nurture aspiring actors over the course of six years. In 2011 and again in 2012, SAS was nominated to participate the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In 2012, Jackson “felt like we were ready” and undertook the demanding application process. SAS was among only 50 high schools accepted to participate out of 1,099 applicants.

The next hurdle was financing the trip. The cost was $6,075 per student with each student’s family required to contribute $2,000. The SAS theater program raised $68,000 through benefits, a rummage sale, theater productions and an online campaign.

The 12 students and their SAS chaperones arrived in the United Kingdom on July 30 and after two days in London, headed for Edinburgh. The Fringe Festival includes over 1,800 performances of theatre, dance and comedy during its three-week run. The SAS players gave four performances of “The Ants” on four consecutive days. SAS film instructor (and Jackson’s husband) John Holleman wrote the play.

The next meeting of the Sewanee Civic Association is scheduled for Feb. 5.

Civic Association Hears About Marker at SES, Community Parks Planning

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

More than 50 people attended the Sept. 4 dinner meeting of the Sewanee Civic Association, the first meeting of the academic year. The agenda included reports about plans for a marker commemorating the desegregation of Sewanee Elementary School (SES) and the community park project.

Efforts to desegregate SES in the early 1960s led to a lawsuit resulting in the 1964 desegregation of all Franklin County Public Schools. In observance of the 50th anniversary of desegregation, the Civic Association requested permission from the state to post a commemorative marker at SES. Past Civic Association president Elizabeth Clark Duncan said they anticipate a reply from the state on the proposed wording in October. One side of the marker will list the eight families named in the lawsuit, which was unique for involving both white and African-American plaintiffs. The other side will read [in part]: “The Sewanee community raised funds to add four new classrooms to the Sewanee Public School…eliminating the argument that there was insufficient space to educate all of the community’s children together.”

The Civic Association is trying to gather contact information on the families and others involved in the lawsuit in an effort to include them in the dedication ceremony set for Jan. 20, 2014, to coincide with Martin Luther King Day. If you can help, email Cameron Swallow at <cameron.swallow@gmail.com>.

The Civic Association will pay for the marker, estimated to cost $1,000, with money raised from the fee for being on the Sewanee Classifieds email list.

Emily Puckette reported on the survey conducted by the Parks Committee to gather community input about plans to construct a community park and playground. She was pleased that 150 community members responded. Of the five proposed sites—Elliot Park, the Sewanee Community Center, Woodlands, the ballpark and St. Mark’s Community Center—two-thirds of those responding named Elliot Park as their top choice. The most frequently suggested equipment for a park were a climbing structure, swings and a slide.

All parks must be Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant, Puckette said. Half of the play components need to accommodate disabled children, and walkways and ground surfaces need to be wheelchair accessible. Director of Parks Steve Burnett said the Parks Committee would analyze the survey data, determine the location and footprint of the proposed park, then submit Requests for Information to possible vendors. Other projects that are part of the committee’s charge include the Little League and soccer fields.

Kiki Beavers updated members on the 2013–14 Community Chest fund drive, co-chaired by Beavers and Theresa Shackelford. Last year the organization raised nearly $100,000, exceeding the goal, which enabled the Civic Association to honor requests for emergency funding received during the summer.

JoAnn McKiernan announced AngelFest 2013, held in conjunction with the Angel Park initiative. Scheduled for Friday, Sept. 20, there will be children’s activities from 4 to 7 p.m., including a treasure hunt with prizes donated by local businesses. In the evening, Towson Engsberg and Friends and Stagger Moon Band will perform.

The next Civic Association meeting is scheduled for Wed., Oct. 3. The program will feature Jim Davidheiser, professor of German, who will talk about the dual-education system that he believes is key to Germany’s economic success.

To learn more about the Sewanee Civic Association go to its website at <sewaneecivic.wordpress.com>.