Noble Neighbors Annual Celebration - Covid Style

Hello Noble Neighbors!

On Tuesday, January 5, in a normal year, we would be gathering with a potluck to celebrate our 7th anniversary. Our tradition is to recount all the good things we've accomplished in the previous year. Looking at our website, it is astounding what we have done together in our neighborhood since 2014. Of all the events, efforts and advocacies we've engaged, by far the greatest achievement is the changing tide of how people think more positively about our district and that our city is engaged in seeking solutions to our challenges. Bravo, all of you! Stand up and take a bow!

Still, we don't want to let this anniversary pass uncelebrated. A few good folk have been considering how to do something together without holding a meeting and they've got a creative idea:
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​Storytelling

We do indeed have stories to tell about what has been done in 2020 in spite of Covid precautions. Here's another way you can participate in our annual celebration. Send your stories and photos to NobleNeighbors@gmail.com in the next few days. At the beginning of next week, our website will be revised to include all these stories. Visit the website late next week. Once again, we'll all be amazed and proud about how many people are working so many ways to build this community. 

2020 Stories:

Delmore Community Orchard 
This is a fabulous new installation on a vacant lot - apples, paw-paws, grapes, raspberries, blueberries and beautiful pollinator flowers. Click here to learn about it.

Roanoke/Noble Mini-Park
Beautication has been one of our primary activities for neighborhood improvement. The efforts started a few years ago with the installation of public perennial gardens. The Roanoke/Noble Mini-Park is the 2020 addition. Read about it by clicking here. 

We Are Noble 2020
How do you host a neighborhood festival when we're under stay-at-home orders due to a pandemic?
1. Evaluate what the festival really is about 
2. Find goals that folks will be willing to share 
3. Provide multiple points of entry for people to choose how to participate.
Wildly successful beyond expectation, click here to learn more!

Noble Gardeners' Market
This hyper local market hosts neighbors selling vegetables and flowers to neighbors. During the pandemic, farmers markets were considered essential businesses. With a few safety adjustments, we were able to open!  Read more here. 

​In other news:

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​Once again, you all were astoundingly generous with your donations to the Start Right CDC Hunger Center​ on Dec. 19th. Here is the photo of all the disposable items you donated. Additionally, you gave more than $1500. SR-CDC will use those funds to purchase more food in bulk quantities. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

A few of you also brought items for the Caledonia Community Center/CHPD Toy Drive. A trunk load of toys, clothing and other items was delivered that afternoon to the toy drive.
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​Roanoke’s Free Yellow Pantry at 941 Roanoke Road
     The ​yellow ​wooden pantry has been on the tree lawn at 941 Roanoke since the first week of the Pandemic in March with the slogan: “Add What You Can…Take What You Need.” During the spring and summer, it  was often full of donations, but recently more often it has been empty.
     Our neighbors ​​prefer easy to prepare comfort foods like Baked Beans, Mac and Cheese, Peanut Butter and Spaghetti – O’s. If you are concerned about cans (jars are not recommended) of fruit, vegetables or tuna “Freezing” then consider donating boxed items: cereal, a bag of coffee, Rice A Roni or tuna in a pouch.
     With children home every day, snacks including cookies, fish crackers and granola bars disappear overnight.
Examples of items other than food that have been donated: diapers, over the counter first aid items, hand sanitizer and pet food.
     Thank you for your creativity and generosity to continue to support our Noble Neighbors in 2021.
Wind Chimes at Roanoke

Together, we'd like to create temporary wind chime sculptures to hang in our new Roanoke/Noble mini-park. Using recyclable materials - tin cans - we'll write a ONE WORD WISH for Noble in 2021 and string these cans together to create wind chimes. The photographs have our prototypes.

To participate, you have two options:

1. Paint your own tin can, write your ONE WORD WISH on it and bring it to the mini-park.
OR
2. Show up and write your ONE WORD WISH on a can which we provide.

Project leaders will be at Roanoke & Noble on Tuesday, Jan. 5 from 2-3pm and 6:30-7:30pm. Choose one of those times to either bring your prepared tin can OR write on one that's there. Project leaders will string your ONE WORD WISH tin can with others to create a few wind chime sculptures. Come back and enjoy them throughout January!

News

Next Noble Neighbors meeting:

First Tuesday of each month, 7pm, usually.  We rotate where we meet between the public meeting places in the neighborhood.
We'll meet again when we are able! In the meantime, we'll see each other at the Noble Gardeners' Market!
Click here for more details

Reading and Action Group: Green Noble

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Click here for details

Donate to
​Noble Neighbors

You can now financially support Noble Neighbors and deduct your donation from your taxes thanks to our new partnership with FutureHeights. Make sure you designate Noble Neighbors in the drop-down menu.

Currently we need funds for:
​   Annuals and garden supplies
   Event signage
   Event materials and supplies
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Checks need to be made out to FutureHeights with Noble Neighbors in the memo line. Checks and cash will be received at each Noble Neighbors meeting.


​Quote Wall

Are we really making a difference? Oh, yes we are! These quotes are from emails, web site form submissions and conversations. Not one of them was solicited. Each of these people voluntarily reached out to us to tell us what they feel. Thank you!! You're an encouragement to us all!
-It felt really good to add all those NN events to my calendar.
-Uplifting to read all of the future happenings.
-WOW - lot's of great information and energy for our Noble neighborhood.
     ~ A few if the responses to our Upcoming Events list as we emerge from COVID restrictions. March 2021
I no longer live in the area. I will miss the neighborhood (was in my home for 30 years) but alas it's time. You have done an incredible  job. I loved being part of the group and appreciated all the hard work everyone put into the many various activities. Keep up the good work.  Good Luck!  
     ~ A Former Noble Neighbor who has moved to her retirement location, January 2021


- This is wonderful!
- Thank you for this wonderful email. The gardens look great and the Roanoke site is fantastic! 
So excited about the orchard! Have always wanted to experience a paw paw tree!
Thanks to everyone for the hard work! 
- This is absolutely wonderful. Noble Neighbors has made such a difference. See you at the market !!
     ~A few of the responses to a recent email describing several projects in motion, July 2020

Good Ideas.. we need liveliness displayed!
     ~Social media user responded to our idea list about how to show neighborhood support from homes, We Are Noble, May 2020

This is our neighborhood and I love to see the pride and progress!
     ~ Frequent Facebook supporter tells why she Likes us so often. May 2020.

​Thank you team! I will: 1) drop off some buckets or backpacks with care items that Saturday on behalf of me + my neighbors and family. 2) pick up trash on my street that Sunday.
    ~A Noble resident posted how she would participate in We Are Noble, May 2020.

-Brilliant. Nice alternative plan.
-This looks awesome! 
Thanks so much for all your work.
I see where this is posted on the Noble Neighbors fb page - I will be sure to share!
​-Keep up the good work fighting the good fight!
     ~ More responses to our plans for We Are Noble 2020, May 2020

-Thanks for your leadership and rapid response to these strange times we find ourselves in. Community matters and finding innovative ways to press forward is a hallmark of this place we all love.
-This is wonderful. Giving to others what they need. The heart of Noble Neighbors.
-Want you and the neighborhood to have great success. ​
     ~ City officials respond to our plans for We Are Noble 2020, May 2020.

-This is a great idea for the We Are Noble celebration this year. We will do some decorating. And as always litter removal on the street.
​-Sounds like a great plan!
-Thank you for all that you do for our neighborhood.  We'll miss the sales and fun this year, but we'll try to come up with some decorations.
-This sounds amazing! Thank you for being so innovative and coming up with such creative ways to embrace and celebrate our Noble community.
     ~ Responses within the first 6 hours of the email explaining that We Are Noble 2020 will be quite different, but nevertheless a celebration of the Noble neighborhood, May 2020
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Thanks for keeping me abreast of upcoming meetings and events.  You're doing a great job!
     ~ Noble Neighbor who is rarely able to attend meetings, January 2020

​Although I am no longer involved with [local non-profit], I still receive your wonderful newsy emails.  God bless you for all the good work you do for the Noble Neighbors and Cleveland Heights. The group [is] one of the best things about Cleveland Heights.
     ~ Former leader of a Cleveland Heights non-profit, January 2020

​I've been so impressed with what you've been able to achieve for Noble Neighbors.  ​
     ~ Former leader of another Cleveland Heights neighborhood group, January 2020
Click here to read more quotes!