Addition by Subtraction

On my better mornings (when I'm not too lazy) I go running first thing in the morning. I've established a route that takes me through Enderis Park twice on each run.

Most mornings, the sun is out, the air is fresh and my runs are inspiring; the park plays no small role in this. However, each morning, without fail, I find litter. My first reaction is anger for those who would litter in the park. Ample garbage bins are located throughout Enderis Park, yet litter is a common, usually daily occurrence.

The saving grace of my runs and the inspiration they give me comes not in spite of this litter, but because of it. While it is my preference to not see litter, I have made a habit of moving past my initial anger and viewing the odd bottle, chip wrapper and Sentry cart as an opportunity to take ownership of Enderis Park.

Each morning, when I set out, I make it a goal to pick up just one piece of trash. Sometimes, I pick up more, but my goal is one. The benefit is twofold: the park looks a little nicer and I feel responsible for it. Furthermore, it's a goal that's easy to pass on. That's the point of this post - to pass on the spirit of leaving things better than we found them, one tiny task at a time.

How do you take ownership of Enderis Park or the Enderis Park Neighborhood.? Leave a post in the comments section at the bottom of this post, all suggestions will be posted, the best post will receive a $10 gift certificate to Sentry.

Be sure to leave your name and address so I can contact you if you win. (Your address will not be posted).

June/July Roundup

You may have missed the most-recent release of the Enderis Park Newsletter. Here's a quick summary of what has and will happen in and around Enderis Park.

Did you catch the first concert?

• June 18th was the first concert of the season for Enderis Park's Concerts on the Green series. The Haakon-Frye Blues Band kicked it off with Enderis Park resident Eric Thorne on guitar and vocals. H2OH finished things off with some classic rock favorites and a few originals off their new album. The next concert is Thursday, June 9th at 6PM.

• Be sure to check the agenda to the right for the rest of the concert schedule and more upcoming events.

Game on at Enderis Park

• The Enderis Park Neighborhood Association is committed to providing a safe, fun atmosphere for children and adults alike and provides supervision of the basketball courts at Enderis Playfield.
  

• The sand courts for volleyball have been raked, the nets are up and Melissa and Jennifer are waiting for teams or individuals to set up a schedule for league games. Games are co-ed and typically take place middle of the week during the evenings. Contact Melissa at 771-4936, magillies3@yahoo.com, or Jennifer at 774-2658, jwolff@gklaw.com.

• The Enderis Park Wading Pool opens June 22nd. Hours are Monday through Friday, 11AM to 4PM and Saturday and Sunday from 10AM to 3PM.

4th of July

Independence Day is almost here. Enderis Park is home to many family-friendly events that celebrate our freedom and way of life...somehow a watermelon eating contest seems in order. Below is a brief list of EPNA-sponsored events.

• 8:30 AM - Parades leave from 81st Street School and MGC Church.
• 9 AM - Registration for stroller, coaster, bike and trike decoration judging.
• 9:15 AM - Flag Raising
• 9:45 AM - Music, contests and games until noon
• 11 AM - World Famous Watermelon-Eating Contest

• Free ice cream and flags
• Volunteers are needed: Contact Kathy Grothe 774-1898

As we approach the first official day of summer please remember to keep Enderis Park safe and enjoyable for all who visit by following these few guidelines:

• Alcohol is prohibited in the Enderis Playfield
• Lighting fireworks is not allowed in the City of Milwaukee
• Trash receptacles are located through the Enderis Playfield for your convenience and to preserve the beauty of the park

Have a good summer!

Rummage Sale

On my daily runs, I've started to notice some rummage sales popping up. Small wonder, it's a great time of year to clear out some of those gently used things you no longer need. With a good bit of traffic, you might make enough scratch to check out a Brewers game, or take the family out to dinner.
The best way to maximize your rummage sale traffic is to join up with the Enderis Park Neighborhood rummage sale. If you check the calendar, you'll see the rummage sale takes place June 20th from 8am to 1pm. You can have your address listed for inclusion in the rummage sale ads and maps by downloading this form and mailing it to the specified address.
Not only is this a great way to make some extra spending money, it's a good way to meet your neighbors.