Hi, Neighbors!

It has been a busy year in our fabulous neighborhood! So good to see so many of you out and about! As we wrap up 2023, we hope you'll join us for hot chocolate (and/or an adult beverage) this Wednesday (see details below). Please enjoy the recap of a few recent events below. Thanks to Melissa Wilson and Sara Smith for your contributions to this newsletter and to the entire APNA Board for all you've done for our neighborhood in 2023! 

Now that most of the leaves have fallen and we are in our second year of no vacuum trucks from the city, we all need to remember that cleaning up our leaves is our responsibility. Please do NOT blow or rake them into the road or along the curb. They will go into the storm water system and create havoc. Please arrange for their disposal or use the free bags provided by the city through their coupon program. If you need more bags, call 311 and request additional coupons. You can also consider "leaving the leaves" (see graphic below). Please remember neighbors who might need help in dealing with their leaves too.

Another opportunity we have at this time of year is to prune our bushes and hedges back off the sidewalk. This is a walking neighborhood and there are several places where shrubbery and hedges have grown over the sidewalk, making it impossible to walk. If your plants are in that condition, please address this by a hard prune if that is suitable for the plant material, or potentially replace them with less intrusive plants. When you are trimming, please allow enough room for next year's growth without impeding our many walkers. 

Another opportunity we have at this time of year is to prune our bushes and hedges back off the sidewalk. This is a walking neighborhood and there are several places where shrubbery and hedges have grown over the sidewalk, making it impossible to walk. If your plants are in that condition, please address this by a hard prune if that is suitable for the plant material, or potentially replace them with less intrusive plants. When you are trimming, please allow enough room for next year's growth without impeding our many walkers.                 ​ 
             

Recap of Recent APNA Events

ANNUAL FALL PICNIC

With fine Fall weather, 70 plus neighbors with their children and dogs gathered to picnic in Harvey Park. The APNA Board and Hospitality Committee provided a superb selection of potluck and beverages. Live music by Ronn Chowder added to the neighborly fun along with an assortment of activities organized for children. Our first pie contest brought in ten contestants with the fabulous homemade pies judged by discriminating tasters Weesie Douglas, Tony Burgett, and Brad Ryczko.

Congratulations to our winners!!

First Place: Sara Smith for her pecan pie;

Bourbon Sorghum Pecan Pie
 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
 
Crust:
10-12 pecan sandies crushed
4 TB salted butter – room temperature
Mix crushed cookies with butter until it looks like sand. Spray pie pan with non-stick cooking spray and press cookie mixture into pan to form a crust. Blind bake the crust for 5-8 minutes
 
Filling:
Stir ½ cup corn syrup, ½ cup sorghum, 1 cup mixed brown and granulated sugar, 3 eggs (beaten), 2 tsp vanilla, and 1 TB bourbon together.
Fill the pie crust with pecan halves and pieces.
Pour the sugar/syrup/egg mixture over the pecans.
 
Bake for 60-70 minutes. When you remove from the oven, sprinkle 1TB bourbon over the hot pie.
Let the pie cool on a rack for a couple of hours. Serve at room temperature or slightly warmed.

Second Place Hope Cottrill for her rhubarb pie;

Angelia Thompson for her apple pie.

Apple Cranberry Pie:
http://www.cooksillustrated.com/recipes/3920
 
Fool Proof Pie Crust: 
http://www.cooksillustrated.com/recipes/3940

 
NEW MEMBER RECRUITMENT EVENT AT THE CHEVY CHASE INN

On September 26th, about fifteen of us gathered at the raucous Chevy Chase Inn to be fed outstanding Cajun fare compliments of Kevin Heathcoat, co-owner of both Bourbon & Toulouse and the CCI. Kevin presented the colorful 65 years of history of the CCI along with inside information of all the various “interesting” owners that preceded Kevin. Equally sensational tall tales were relayed by Dave Palmer about his experiences as the last resident of the caretaker’s cottage at Ashland, The Estate of Henry Clay. 
 
GREEN SPACE MULCH DAY

The City provided two big truck loads of nice quality mulch for neighborhood volunteers to spread around our trees in our common green spaces running down South Hanover and Harvey Park on the first block of Desha. On Sunday, October 15th, around a dozen of us, armed with wheelbarrows, shovels, and pitchforks had the mulch neatly distributed in one hour exactly. We worked on the first block of South Hanover and Harvey Park before we ran out of mulch. It is hoped to work our way down South Hanover with City donated mulch early next Spring. Stay tuned for details and don’t forget your work gloves!
 
WALKABOUT TO SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES

With perfect weather, 15 neighbors met on Thursday, November 30th to walk together to Stuarto’s on South Ashland. Co-owner Kelly Kern greeted us with the history of her business co-owned with her husband Stuart Litguard. We were shown the beautiful variety of infused olive oils and vinegars, enticing spices, unusual sea salts, and irresistible flavored sugars. Additionally, there is an assortment of olives, spreads, and interesting condiments. The gift baskets, on display or custom made, are perfect for this holiday season and Stuarto’s will ship.

Next we walked over to meet the new co-owner of Charlie Brown’s, Chris Behler, who welcomed us with a short overview of Charlie Brown’s past and some of us were relieved that our names were not mentioned. Did you know that Charlie Brown’s was originally called the Rusty Nail and the name changed to Charlie Brown’s in 1973? A fact known by all is the interior has not changed in fifty years. Cocktails were in order and we lingered to chat and enjoy superb appetizers. Another Walkabout is planned for late Spring. Details in the new year! Walk with us!
 

HILLENMEYER CHRISTMAS SHOP AT ASHLAND
 

What a special treat for our neighborhood to welcome the Hillenmeyer Christmas Shop to Ashland! The seasonal shop was open from November 20th to December 12th and offered fresh cut trees, wreaths, greens, and custom arrangements. Hoping you were able to stroll through and enjoy the festive atmosphere!