Join us this Thursday in person for the August HPCC Community Meeting & DAM meeting for a proposed new business at 5642 Bryant Street.

When:  Thursday, August 15th at 7 p.m.

Where:  St. Andrew’s basement hall, 5801 Hampton Street

In addition to updates from Zone 5 and the HPCC, we’ll be having a DAM meeting about a proposed project on Bryant Street. The property is currently zoned as residential and is a two-unit dwelling.  The owner is requesting it be rezoned as mixed use to allow for a first floor business: 

“Whisker Wonderland will be a small cat lounge and adoption center, where people can come experience and interact with rescued community cats in a natural way.  Patrons can come to pet cats, work/study, spend time with friends, attend events, and to potentially adopt.”  

Come to learn more, ask questions, and voice any concerns. Pizza will be served!

The school board’s discussion to potentially close schools continues, and you still have the chance to make your voice heard in support of Fulton. The district is developing plans to save money, with actions including closing schools, changing feeder patterns and restructuring existing schools. Fulton was on the chopping block a few years back, sparking concern in the neighborhood that it might be up for consideration for closure now.

There are four easy things you can do to engage and make your voice heard. 

1. Sign this petition asking the school board to extend the deadline. Also share this link with your friends and family who are in the district.
2. Show up at the Town Hall meetings the district is holding about the Facilities Utilization Plan (see this link for details, dates and locations)
3. Sign up to testify at the public hearing on July 22nd (Sign ups open on July 15th – find details here)
4. And, importantly spread the word and share this information far and wide.

Fulton’s PTA is advocating for the district to pause the current process, extend the deadline, and engage in a new thorough and thoughtful process that will work toward building a truly thriving district with a supportive community.

Whether or not you have kids who attend or have attended Fulton, consider how a closure might impact you and your neighborhood. Highland Park becomes a less desirable place to live for families without a school in the heart of the neighborhood.

Plus, the specter of an empty school anywhere and especially a block away from the main business district has potential negative implications. Other empty school buildings in the city quickly fall into disrepair, where they become unsightly and attract vandalism.

Note: FULTON WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.  No decisions have been made about which schools will be impacted for the following year. 

By Kim Broniek & Elisa Vettier

If you’ve spent any time at Highland Park, you’ve probably noticed the dancers at the fountain. A dedicated and diverse group of people gathers throughout the week, led by Ashlee Lynn who has been instructing Zumba classes next to the park fountain since the pandemic. Ashlee makes Highland Park a better place by bringing fitness, exhilarating dance, a sense of community, joy and inclusion to our neighborhood. 

Ashlee brings together community members through Zumba and exercise classes all on a donation basis. Her philosophy is safety first but we dance through all seasons including winter when the temperature is single digits and summer when temperatures soar into the 90s. If it starts to rain during class we just keep dancing. This past winter after a heavy snow, several of us came with our shovels and salt to make sure the space was clear enough to have class. When the clocks change and class is held in the dark, Ashlee comes equipped with a spotlight so that we can see her. Where there is a will, there is a way to keep dancing. We call her “All Weather Ashley!”

Ashley also makes sure that every class is streamed on Zoom for those that might be traveling or unable to attend in person, and if she happens to be out of town she is sure to find a substitute instructor for us so that we do not disrupt our weekly exercise schedules. Ashlee has also taken time out of her vacation while traveling to instruct a Zoom session to keep us dancing!

The sense of community is felt beyond dancing and exercise. Attendees sometimes bring food donations shared with whomever happens to be in attendance that day. Ashlee has organized clothing swaps on class days where we bring Zumba/workout clothes that no longer fit us and are able to swap for something that others have brought. Any clothing left over is donated to a local charity. 

To add some additional fun to classes, Ashlee has held glow-in-the-dark Zumba, ugly Christmas sweater Zumba and, for Mardi Gras, we all wore fun masks and beads.  She also gives back to us by organizing student appreciation gatherings which have included finger foods and gift basket prizes. She appreciates her students as much as we appreciate all that she does for us.  How she can find all of the jamming beats/diverse playlists and remember all of the moves is amazing! 

By supporting fundraising events such as Spin Your Wheels and collaborating with other instructors bringing pop up classes such as Buti Yoga (recently held at the fountain), Ashlee has brought additional exercise opportunities to attendees.  

The classes have become more than music, exercise and dance: There has been a ripple effect generating friendships, networking, a sense of community, care and support for each other.