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MidTown in Motion
E-NEWSLETTER
August/September 2008
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Dear MidTown Stakeholder,
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The Butler's Pantry, located at 2533 Auburn Avenue at Cross Country on the Hill, has been a long time Columbus favorite. Established in 1986, The Butlers Pantry offers traditional southern deli favorites as well as what is undoubtedly the best chicken salad you will ever put in your mouth. Many longtime residents of the MidTown community have grown up on the fresh, homemade, southern tastes of The Butler's Pantry; and those new to the area, be it from elsewhere in this region or from places far away, are drawn to our quality and neighborhood friendliness.
The Butler's Pantry is not only a lunch destination. We offer all of our specialties for corporate and private catering events. Take the stress off yourself by letting our experienced catering team deliver professionally presented breakfast buffets, boxed lunches, or hot meals of unsurpassed quality and freshness to your next meeting. Check out our catering and other items on The Butler's Pantry WEBSITE.
The Butler's Pantry provides prepared meal specialties - like our poppy seed chicken, country captain, corn soufflé, broccoli casserole, twice baked potatoes, quiches, homemade soups, butter rolls and much more - for your family when cooking doesn't fit your schedule. The Butler's Pantry also delivers prepared meal packages to neighbors, friends or family for special occasions (like the birth of a child) or in times of illness or need. We also carry small vineyard wines unavailable elsewhere in Columbus at great prices.
As the weather cools and football is in the air, The Butlers Pantry is ready to pack your tailgating cooler for the BIG GAME with chicken salad, orzo pasta, potato salad, pimento cheese and all of the "fixin's" perfect for "pre-game" festivities.
In addition to the lunch menu favorites one expects to find at The Butler's Pantry, daily specials provide a variety of seasonal new items you just have to try: new French dip, vegi wrap and caprese croissant have been huge hits. Made-from-scratch soups are certain to make a lasting impression. We look forward to offering many new Butler's Pantry creations with fresh seasonal ingredients and many healthy, low-fat options. For your sweet tooth, try the Butler's Brownies with our trademark cream cheese frosting or one of our homemade giant cookies.
The staff at The Butler's Pantry takes pride in being a longtime member of the MidTown business community and providing our customers with the quality food and service they have come to expect. Mention that you saw this letter in the MidTown newsletter (through September 30th) and receive one free Butler's Pantry cookie, with purchase.
See you then,
Tonya Pike
Owner
The Butler's Pantry*
*The Butler's Pantry is a member of the MidTown Business Association (MBA) and Tonya is a member of its executive committee. To join the MBA CLICK HERE.
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| MidTown Enters Into Agreement to Survey Lindsey Creek |
 In August 2008, MidTown, Inc. teamed up with the City and property owners near the intersection of Macon Road and I-185 to address the new FEMA Flood Map assessment, which expanded the federal flood plain designations. After Hurricane Katrina and the Flint River flood several years ago, FEMA reassessed water-way areas all across the country. This assessment did not involve a detailed or on-site review of the topography of the land or other water flow issues, but was based largely on satellite photos, like that shown to the right here. This imprecise FEMA analysis resulted in more property being placed into federal plains, which makes those properties ineligible for building permits, raises insurance coverage issues, and requires approximately 100 homeowners to purchase flood insurance for their existing homes.
In an effort to address this increased flood designation, MidTown, Inc. has partially funded, and will administer on the City's behalf (through a formal Memorandum of Understanding), a hydrology study to determine the accuracy of the new FEMA maps. It is MidTown's hope that this study, scheduled to be completed in October 2008, and then submitted to FEMA for action, will release some property from the federal flood maps, ending the increased flood insurance requirement for homeowners and opening up commercial lands at the intersection of Macon Road and I-185 for redevelopment. This flood study will also identify what additional steps need to be taken to completely resolve any lingering Lindsey Creek flood issues.
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| Creating Neighborhood Associations and Community Groups |
 One of the major objectives of MidTown, Inc. is to establish neighborhood associations for each neighborhood in MidTown Columbus. Such associations allow residents to coordinate efforts for their mutual benefit, share information pertinent to the area, and gather information from residents to report to civic and city leaders for action. On Tuesday August 26th, MidTown, Inc. hosted a community meeting at the Fluellen Recreation Center for the East Wynnton/ Britt neighborhoods within the MidTown. Not only did residents for those neighborhoods show up, but others who live near those neighborhoods and are interested in the effort of rebuilding communities and creating associations turned out as well. The group identified existing associations and their leaders, and identified those areas with no associations at all. Each participant also filled out MidTown Stakeholder Cards identifying community assets, issues and leaders. This information is being compiled for future community use.
 Dr. J. A. Hud, a community organizer with vast experience in neighborhood groups, urged the crowd to: "Organize, organize, organize to rebuild the pride of this community". As areas without associations are identified, MidTown will assist leaders within that area in setting up formal representative groups and/or street captains. MidTown also can assist leaders in pulling together a directory of names, addresses and phone numbers of residents to facilitate communication among neighbors, and help facilitate neighborhood watch efforts where those efforts are wanted. Additional organizational meetings are expected to be held in the Boxwood, Carver, Lindsey Creek, and East Highlands areas. For more information regarding these efforts, contact (706) 494-1663. Also, please note that a MidTown representative appears the second and the fourth Tuesday of each month on Dr. Hud's community affairs radio program on WOKS 1340 AM, 6:30 - 7:00 p.m. If you wish to participate in the call-in show you can dial (706) 576-3666.
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| Neighborhood Groups Seek Answers to Property Crime Issues |
 Over three hundred people crowded into the United Wynnton Methodist Church cafeteria to hear from city officials about a series of property crimes in what appears to be targeted neighborhoods. The incidents of "property crimes" consist of car entries, auto thefts and home burglaries. MidTown, Inc. called for the meeting between the concerned neighborhood associations and Mayor Jim Wetherington, Chief Ricky Boren, Sheriff Ralph Johnson, and District Attorney Gray Conger, for the purpose of answering residents' questions and relaying the City's strategy for addressing the issues.
On August 14th, prior to the neighborhood meeting, MidTown, Inc. had written a letter to Chief Boren and Mayor Wetherington pointing out that the property crimes in these areas appeared to be coordinated and that coordinated police response efforts should be implemented. Specifically, MidTown asked that a Task Force be set up to review similar occurring events, coordinate information coming in from the organized neighborhood watch groups, and temporarily increase police patrols until the culprits are caught. Chief of Police Rick Boren has responded that an officer has been assigned to review all reports from these affected areas and to coordinate a response to the situation. He also noted that there are additional resources and strategies that have been deployed to address the special circumstance, and that several recent arrests have resulted in admissions to numerous property crime incidents in the area.
 It was noted at the meeting that Cross Country Plaza crime statistcs have been analyzed and found to be in-line with (and better in some respects to) other shopping areas in Columbus. To review the analysis regarding Cross Country Plaza CLICK HERE. To review media coverage of the community meeting CLICK HERE. Over 150 MidTown Stakeholder Cards were completed at the meeting and that information is being compiled for future community use. If you would like more information about Neighborhood Associations and Crime Watch efforts please call (706) 494-1663. |
| MidTown, Inc. T-Shirts, Hats, etc. |
Show your MidTown pride! For a minimum $25 donation to MidTown, Inc., you will receive a MidTown T-shirt, baseball cap, or license plate and a MidTown bumper sticker. Simply CLICK HERE to make a donation. Please specifiy in the "Comments" box, which item you wish to receive and note the desired size (S - XL) for a T-shirt request. Or, you can come to MidTown, Inc.'s office at 1236 Wildwood Avenue (just off of Wynnton Road) between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday to pay by cash or check. Look "cool" like Judy (seen here to the left) and support MidTown's renewal efforts. We look forward to seeing you!
(MidTown items modeled by Judy Tucker, MidTown, Inc.'s Director of Community Affairs).
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| Otis White to Appear at Speaker Series |
 MidTown, Inc. and the Coalition for Sound Growth present the second in our continuing Speaker Series with Otis White, president of Civic Strategies, Inc. Otis, a Columbus, Georgia native, will be speaking on the subject of his upcoming book - How Communities Make Dramatic Changes: The New Formula for Civic Progress.
Otis writes frequently about communities and decision making. From 2002 to 2007, he was a columnist for Governing magazine writing about urban issues. He has also written for the New York Times and other publications. He has been quoted by newspapers and magazines ranging from the Wall Street Journal to Time magazine and has been a regular commentator on the National Public Radio show, Smart City. He is now working on a book about how civic leaders make sweeping changes in communities. Before starting Civic Strategies, Otis was a business journalist and magazine executive. He is a former editor and publisher of Georgia Trend magazine, an award-winning business magazine, and vice president of Trend Magazines, Inc.
The breakfast speaker event will be held Wednesday September 24, 2008, 7:30 a.m., The Cunningham Center at Columbus State University. A continental breakfast will be provided for $10 per person, $75 for a table of eight. Your check is your reservation. Make checks payable to MidTown, Inc., 1236 Wildwood Avenue, Columbus, Georgia 31906. You may also reserve a seat or table on-line with a credit card just CLICK HERE
Made possible by generous grants from Flint Energies Foundation, Mildred Miller Fort Foundation and Wachovia Foundation.
and make certain to note in the "Comments" area that your payment is for the Speaker's event.
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A New Member of the MidTown, Inc. Team
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 MidTown, Inc. welcomes Leslie Anne Heard to our staff. Leslie Anne comes to MidTown with a degree in Historic Preservation and Community Planning from the College of Charleston, in Charleston, South Carolina. She (like her older sister, Katie Waldrep) has decided to live right here in MidTown upon returning to Columbus. "Leslie Anne brings the youthful enthusiasm that veterans like Teresa [MidTown's Executive Director] and I need from time to time", states Judy Tucker, Director of Community Affairs for MidTown, Inc. You will see Leslie Anne organizing MidTown's community events, administering our office affairs and spearheading our young professional outreach. With her training in community planning and her energy, Leslie Anne will be a real asset to the MidTown community. She has quickly become the "point" person for an office that is becoming busier every day. Welcome, Leslie Anne!
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| Smokin' Hot MidTown Properties |
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Check out these must see MidTown Columbus properties:
If you would like to post a MidTown property in our next e-newsletter, contact Teresa or Judy at (706) 494-1663.
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| Important Community Announcements |
- River Raffle! - Historic Columbus Foundation (HCF) is sponsoring the River Raffle event in support of "What Progress Has Preserved", Thursday September 25th, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. at the Eagle/Phenix Mill Complex, 1201 Front Avenue. A $100 raffle ticket purchases two tickets to the raffle party (with the Chattahoochee Pine Beatles band), dinner and a chance to win the $10,000 jackpot. For more information, call HCF at (706) 322-0756 or CLICK HERE.
- The Front Porch presents its September featured artist - Richard Millman, Watercolor Art. An Artist's Reception will be held Friday September 12th, 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Friday 10 - 5:30, Saturday 10 - 4.
- Columbus Artists' Guild presents it Members' 2008 Exhibition, September 18 - October 4, Columbus Library, CB&T/Synovus Room, during library hours. An Opening Reception will be held September 18th from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. The public is welcome. Come view the best of locally produced art in all mediums.
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Invest in MidTown
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Positive change happens through community effort, and those concerted efforts require funding. Contributions made to MidTown, Inc. are tax deductible. MidTown, Inc. is a non-profit tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization. Our mission states: In support of community, conservation and diversity, MidTown, Inc., through education and advocacy, works to sustain and enhance the neighborhoods and businesses within MidTown Columbus. Please join us in the pursuit of this mission and in the renewal of our in-town community.
You may send your contribution to MidTown, Inc. 1236 Wildwood Avenue, Columbus, Georgia 31906. To access our on-line giving page click Invest in MidTown. We appreciate your interest in MidTown. |
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MidTown, Inc. | 1236 Wildwood Avenue | Columbus | GA | 31906
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