01/04/2015
A message from Carlos Cesar
President of Flint Neighborhood Association (FNA) and
Vice President of the Flint Merchant’s Association (FMA)
Dear Member of the FMA or Neighbor of FNA
As you know for the past 3 years, I have accomplished a lot for our neighborhood. Thank you for your support and I have to say it has been very positive years. I have been able to get the financial support of our neighborhood businesses and the physical support and voluntaries of the neighbors to get so much done in our neighborhood. Here are examples of what we accomplished:
SCHOOLS: We adopted the Fonseca, Watson and Espirito Santo school. We provided the schools not just what they needed but we gave the kids Trolley trips and tours of our city.
SCHOOLRSHIP: Last year we started a scholarship of $1,000.00 to a graduate of the Durfee High School in the name of Kathy Assad, founder of the FNA.
PARKS: We adopted Father Travasso’s Park, Britland Park and Quequechan tot lot. Lafayette Park.
Two years ago we sent a project to the state with a request for funds to improve Father Travasso’s Park. This year we got the good news from the state approving the funds of $2.5mil. Now the park has a date of inauguration for April of 2015. For the past two years a group of volunteers and the help from National Utilities, we have been cleaning up that park and removing all the dead trees and cleaned up the waterfront of the park. I had met with the city and requested the help to improve the waterfront of the Quequechan River. The city had located $375,000 for a dock and the project is to have canoes and pedal boats on that location for the summer. Last year we had a request for help from the Twilight baseball team that plays on Lafayette Park because the park had no running water or lights for the night games. We are glad to say that today they have the sprinklers back on, new lighting and with the help of the Sheriff’s office, we had all the fences painted. The FNA paid for the yellow lifeguard to cover all inside field fences. Just 3 months ago we fixed the Quequechan tot lot with a mini grant of $2,000 from the mayor’s office. That project came to cost $4,000.
MOVIE NIGHTS: Last year we had 2 movie nights. The first movie we played was “Frost” on Britland Park, thanks to the support of members from FMA. The second movie was the “LEGO MOVIE” with the support of our member Bank5.
FLINT SENIOR CENTER: We adopted the Flint senior center and we provide our seniors with a bus trip contest on the center, health classes and walks.
BUS TRIPS: Every year we provided the FNA bus trips as fundraiser. They are on the months of March and October to Foxwoods Casino, June for the Day of Portugal on Cape Cod, October in Salem Ma, and December in New York.
CLEANUP: During the year with volunteer neighbors we did clean ups around the neighborhood on streets and parks.
BLOCK PARTY: Every year on the month of August, we closed off Pleasant St. and have our annual Block party. (If you want to be a vendor next year please contact us.)
DAVOL SCHOOL: As you know the FNA purchased the former Davol School on Flint Street for the price of $5,121. The project is to turn that school into a community center. With a price tag of $450,000 for renovations, part of the organizations are working together to make this project a reality and are applying for grants to cover the project renovations. On this location there will be the future Post Office and many other none profit organizations that will provide much needed free after school programs for kids.
CRIME: I have monthly meetings with the FRPD. We get the information about arrests in our neighborhood and what areas we need to keep our eyes on. Have to add that last year and with the $15,000 we raised from the carnival at Lafayette Park, we purchased security cameras, which we provided to the FRPD. This means we are the only neighborhood with cameras connected 24 hours a day into the police department.
CHRISTMAS PARADE: Every year you can look for our Float with a live band this year during the Children’s Christmas Parade. (If you want to help with fundraising our events we can put your business banner on our float for $100).
CHRISTMAS SHOW: 2014 as the second year we did the Fall River Christmas show. We invite the schools in our neighborhood to perform in our Christmas show. This year it will be on Dec. 14th 2:00pm, Adults $2 and kid 10 and under $1.
E-Mail Information: To all FMA members and or vendors, please forward your updated mailing address information along with an e-mail address. In the future, FMA will notify members by e-mail to decrease expenses and keep you aware of activities conducted by the FMA on a daily basis.
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS: I Host the Neighborhood News Show on channel 95.
If you are interesting in being on the show please contact me
If you a member or a volunteer, I want to thank you for all your support!
All this happens because of you.
If you not a member yet, please complete the application and return to us. If you have a question please contact us, we need your help.
Again thank you for your support!
Carlos Cesar
Vice-President of the Flint Merchant’s Association
President of Flint Neighborhood Association
