Mt. Hope News
John M. Twomey
Greater Camp Concerned Citizens
Progress Report
City departments made significant progress recently addressing initiatives the Greater Camp Concerned Citizens put forth at our meeting of May 24th concerning Mt. Hope’s infrastructure.
A profoundly perilous pot-hole (to front-ends, ball-joints, and struts) on lower Cypress Street finally disappeared, filled in, covered over, and good riddance. It damaged many a Providence resident’s vehicle in the many months it existed.
The Water Department repaired several water pipes we brought to their attention that stuck up 5 inches out of neighborhood sidewalks causing residents to trip. One pipe protruded on Locust Street for over ten years and under previous administrations had never been corrected despite repeated complaints. Thank you, Office of Neighborhood Services.
Public Works repaired a dangerous drain, badly decayed and sinking, a real danger to pedestrians, on the Corner of Abbot and Knowles.
Code Enforcement got after a blighted construction site on Camp Street where garbage and debris, including a large sand-pile that completely blocked the sidewalk, had gone unaddressed for the better part of a year. The site has been cleaned up.
Mr. Robert McMahon of the Parks Department followed through on his pledge to clean up the mess under the Cypress Street overpass. So far, the Parks Department sandblasted the rude graffiti on the cement wall under the footbridge out of existence. Mr. McMahon reports that the needed fence repair on the site will soon follow. The adjacent land owned by the Mt. Hope Land Trust remains a problem and we urge the Land Trust to better maintain their property in Mt. Hope.
We asked the Office of Neighborhood Services to look into cleaning up a vacant lot on Camp Street that we believed to be City owned: 215 Camp Street, Plat 6, Lot 593. The Office of Neighborhood Services informs us that that property too is owned by the Mt. Hope Land Trust. A sorry mess it is. Completely overgrown with weeds and imbued with copious amounts of garbage and debris it not only constitutes an eyesore, it may well be a public health nuisance. We call on both the City and the Land Trust to do something about this blighted property.
A phone call to Mr. William Bombard, P.E., Acting Traffic Engineer, revealed that our stalled traffic proposal for the Camp Street Corridor remains alive. Mr. Bombard informed us that the DPW now awaits a delivery of traffic signs and that they will be installed before the end of August. Mr. Bombard also stated that a contractor will be retained to the paint the crosswalks and he expects the work to be completed by mid-August.
Thanks to all the City Departments and employees who followed through on their commitments to improving these quality of life issues in Mt. Hope.
A New Sub-station Commander
Col. Esserman named Lieutenant Kohen the new District 8 Sub-station Commander following Lieutenant Zieglamayer’s retirement. Lt. Kohen headed up the Police Academy and is now transitioning to his new post. Welcome to Mt. Hope, Lt. Kohen. We look forward to working with you.
Foot-patrols continue in Mt. Hope, and the policemen walking the beats are a friendly, welcome sight to Mt. Hope residents. The presence of these uniformed officers walking neighborhood streets gives residents a reassuring sense of safety long overdue in Mt. Hope.
A Neighbor’s Profile
If you’re driving on Camp Street by beautiful Billy Taylor Park early on a weekday morning and you see a tall, lithe man in the park, moving with the easy grace of a panther, that would be John Wiggins. For the past 5 years, John has been the man who keeps our park so clean. A part-time Parks Department employee, John enters the park every morning at 8 AM, and beginning in the toddler’s playground makes sure that the park is spotless by the time the first visitors arrive. A thirty year Mt. Hope resident, a Navy man and father of four, John retired six years ago from the printing industry. We thank you for your excellent service, John, and we are proud you are a member of Greater Camp Concerned Citizens. Keep up the good work.
Hope Seniors
Mt. Hope Seniors held a meeting Monday, July 12. Mt. Hope Seniors is a new group addressing the lives and needs of seniors and stressing self-help and peer support for senior citizens in Mt. Hope. Seniors interested in joining should call Horace at 374-1369.
Mabray Scholarship Fund
The Greater Camp Concerned Citizens awarded Iola Mabray Scholarship Fund grants to 15 well deserving Mt. Hope public school students, G.C.C.C. President, Horace Mabray is pleased to announce. Two Mt. Hope college students also received grants to be used toward the purchase of their college textbooks. The grants reward students who demonstrate excellence and a steady commitment toward academic achievement. The grants are named in honor of Mr. Mabray’s deceased mother, Iola, a long time Mt. Hope resident and an activist for education.
For information about joining Greater Camp Concerned Citizens call Co-chair Neighborhood Services Committee, Irene Tayber-Twomey at 640-8076 or email to John
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