Board Update: Crime Watch meeting and Annual Party recaps, food truck, Pool hours, fixing street lights

Hello Eagle Nest residents,

Here is the latest neighborhood news for the week of August 9:

CRIME WATCH MEETING FEATURES CITY OFFICIAL, SUMMIT PREVIEW, FOOD, DRAWINGS

For those unable to attend, our August 3 Crime Watch meeting was notable on several fronts. First off, the event was the sixth consecutive time ENPOA was officially registered as a participant in the National Night Out, which brings our neighborhood together with residents across the country to observe anti-crime initiatives and safety best practices. Thank you to the passionate group of residents who turned out to share their concerns and suggestions for maintaining safety throughout our development. Your feedback and input will be carried forward and discussed at future Board meetings.

Second, special thanks to featured guest Maria Wildridge, Director of Latino Services and Outreach for the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office. Wildridge answered crime-related questions and shared about free services our ENPOA Crime Watch could use in the future. More about those initiatives is coming, so stay tuned.

Third, residents learned about the North Shadeland Crime Summit, 6:30-8:30 p.m. August 19 at Castleton United Methodist Church (71st and Shadeland). The free event will feature a panel of elected officials and community leaders answering previously submitted questions about area crime and safety. WFYI crime and justice reporter Jill Sheridan will moderate the event and put submitted questions to the panel (Click here for more information and to submit a question).

Lastly, no Crime Watch gathering would be complete without food and prizes. Last year’s ENPOA National Night Out meeting was canceled because of COVID-19 concerns, and along with it the always popular Chick-Fil-A munchies. Not so this year, and the food went fast, as always. In addition, residents Jack O’Tain and Brett Farrell won Amazon gift cards in a drawing courtesy of ENPOA Crime Watch.

Want to know more about crime issues in Eagle Nest and the surrounding area? Got the munchies after supper? Join us for our final Crime Watch meeting of 2021 on October 5, 7-8 p.m. at the Clubhouse. Topic of discussion is TBD. Questions? Contact Crime Watch Coordinator Carolyn Goldenetz at goldenetz@gmail.com.

ANNUAL PARTY (AND FREE FOOD) DRAWS BIG CROWD

Thanks to the dozens of families who turned out for our Annual Party earlier this month at the Clubhouse – one of the largest turnouts in recent years. Per tradition, the Board provided free fried chicken, lemonade and beer, and several residents donated side salads for all to enjoy inside or out on our newly remodeled deck. It was a beautiful day with low humidity, so the Pool was a popular attraction, as you might expect. Unfortunately, we ran out of chicken and beer in the first hour and a half, but the good news is the kids were happy with the free snow cones provided by Kona Ice. (If you’re into party planning, you know how hard it is to plan for open events, so apologies to those who showed up later. The Board will work on an RSVP plan for next year.) It was great to see so many longtime and new residents turn out and enjoy the afternoon. And congrats to the half dozen residents (below) who won $25 gift cards in our drawings. It’s all to say thank you for making Eagle Nest one of the best neighborhoods around!

FOOD TRUCK TUESDAY (AUGUST 10): IT’S SERENDIPITY!

Our summer run of food truck visits continues Tuesday with resident favorite Serendipity, which returns with its award-winning menu of elk burger sliders, chicken tacos, crab cake minis, grilled cheese and Cuban sandwiches as well as those crazy-good hand-cut truffled-up fries. Click here for a menu and pricing.

Can’t make Tuesday? Reminder we have $5 Jet’s Pizza every Thursday, 5-7 p.m. at the Clubhouse. Cash only for sausage, pepperoni or cheese options. Remember, every Tuesday is a food truck, and every Thursday is Jet’s Pizza through September. Check the blog Events page to see who’s coming next and when.

MEET THE NEIGHBORS: MO, THE MAYOR OF BITTERN LANE

You have probably seen her: In the fall and early spring, pushing a stroller; in the summer, pushing a lawnmower. An athletic stride and a shock of silver hair, a smile and a wave for everyone - it's Mo Nuss, sometimes called “the mayor of Bittern Lane.”

“We moved here from the Eastside in 1988,” she says. “This is a great township for schools, and you’re near the hospital, near shopping -- it's got everything.”

As others have noted, Eagle Nest is a friendly neighborhood.

“It's kid-friendly, as-you-age friendly,” she said. “You get to know your neighbors, and in this day and age that’s an important aspect of life.”

Mo likes to stay busy. Her two children are grown, and after her dogs passed, she started walking the neighbors’ dogs.

“Then when COVID-19 came, I realized some of these parents needed help, so I checked with them - one neighbor has a 4-year-old. Those kids need to be out, they need to be in the environment.”

In the summer, she mows six lawns for friends - not for money, though: Mo mows for food.

“Here's the deal: I’m not a great cook, and they feed me,” she laughed. “I’ve got a great Italian cook, another who cooks everything. I’ve got a retired schoolteacher who's great.”

She has noticed that folks tend to stay in Eagle Nest.

“People don’t leave. They like it here, and they age here. It’s safe, it’s calm. Both of my kids are grown and gone, but every time I talk about selling the house because I don’t need this much space, they go, ‘No, mom,’ because this is home, and they love to come home.”

There's something special about that, she says.

“At that point, as a person and a mom, I guess I did something right. Because even though they’re grown and gone, this is still home.”

Do you have an interesting story about Eagle Nest life to share? Know a neighbor who would make an interesting profile? Let us know. Our “Meet the Neighbors” series highlights new and longtime residents to help Eagle Nest folks get to know each other. If you would like to tell your story, or nominate a resident, email scottthien@comcast.net and we’ll get you in touch with former IndyStar reporter and Ball State journalism instructor John Strauss of Tanager Court. All you need to do is answer a few questions (and send a couple of photos if you can):

• How long have you lived in Eagle Nest and where did you move from?
• The kind of work you do or have done.
• What you do for fun.
• The things you like best about the neighborhood, and what you appreciate the most about your neighbors.
• A fun or amusing story about your time in Eagle Nest.

Everyone has a story – and we hope to read yours soon!

IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS …

MISSING POOL GEAR? We have a growing collection of lost-and-found items ranging from goggles to towels to flip flops on the fence under the back deck. (Fancy display at right) We kindly ask that you please retrieve your items before Labor Day. After that, all unclaimed items will be donated to Goodwill Industries. Questions? Contact Pool Manager Sam Burns at samantha.burns51@gmail.com.

POOL HOURS: Now that school is in session – taking with it the bulk of our lifeguard team – Pool hours have been adjusted to 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, and noon to 6 p.m. on weekends. The last day of Pool operation for this season will be Labor Day, Monday, September 6.

SIGNAGE POLICY: A reminder that yard signs are not permitted without Board approval. We’ve seen a few pop up around the development in the wake of the June 18 hail storm, but unfortunately these do not qualify for display, per the Eagle Nest Signage Policy approved by the Board of Directors on January 31, 2021, as part of the Association's Declarations of Restrictions. Exception: Contractors signs are permitted only on the day of active repairs. Unapproved signs will be removed. Got a sign you want to display? Submit a request: Snap a photo of the sign and email it with a description (materials, size, duration of display) to RulesRestrictions@att.net. Thanks for your cooperation in helping keep our neighborhood a commercial-free zone.

DARK STREET LIGHTS? If you spot a dark street light in our development, please report it to Street and Sidewalk Coordinator Helen Galvin at heleng0805@gmail.com. Or, you can call or file an online report with IPL/AES – it takes literally two minutes and is the quickest way to address the problem. You will need the pole light number found near top lighting element. Click here to begin a report (and thanks for your help!).

On behalf of the Board,
Scott Thien, President