Hi Neighbors,

I love the word “neighbor.” To me, a neighbor is more than someone who happens to live next door. You know the name of a true neighbor, exchange phone numbers, and pick up each other’s mail. A good neighbor might shovel your sidewalk or leave fresh garden vegetables on your welcome mat.

My 15-year-old daughter Kree and I are blessed with such neighbors on Hill Street, where we purchased an affordable home in 2014 through the Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Organization. I wanted Kree to grow up as I did, surrounded by people who look out for one another.

I was raised in this neighborhood—on Howard Street, right across from Fredrickson Park. In the fall, you could hear the Notre Dame band practicing, and on game days, my mom and her neighbor friends would sit outside barbecuing and celebrating.

While the city calls this the Northeast Neighborhood, it will always be the Eastside to me. Generations of Eastsiders attended Adams High School and we love staying connected. Since 2004, the Eastside Reunion (ESR) has drawn thousands of people back to the 46617 zip code from across the country. 

Our latest reunion in July was spectacular! We kicked off the weekend with a white party at the Century Center, followed by a parade featuring Adams High cheerleaders and a gathering at Perley Park (also known as Coquillard Park). We wrapped up Sunday with church in the park. Check out the photos on the East Side Reunion Facebook page and plan to join us in 2028!

I am deeply engaged in our community, serving as NNRO secretary, NENC treasurer, and ESR secretary. In addition to co-launching this newsletter, the NNRO and NENC are preparing a neighborhood website and social media channels to keep everyone informed. There will be more coordinated events too. This fall, there a couple Back to School events you won’t want to miss, including something NEW: a health fair! See details below!

Warmly,

Kisha Hoover, Neighbor

NNRO funding partners Indiana Health Centers and Oaklawn will host a Back to School Health Fair at Kelly Park on Friday, August 14, from 1 to 4 p.m. IHC will provide well child checks and sports physicals, as well as lab tests and referrals, from their mobile health clinic. Adults can also receive care. IHC accepts Medicare/Medicaid, most private insurance, and offers a sliding fee scale based on income. Free backpacks and school supplies will be available, while they last. Free Kona Ice will be served!

Scan or click on QR code to schedule an IHC health appointment.
Walk-ins are welcome! 

The city of South Bend’s Office of Sustainability wants home owners to know about the Indiana Energy Saver Program. Through the program's two rebates, applied as upfront discounts covering up to 100 percent of the costs, Hoosiers can get new efficient appliances such as a HVAC system, water heater, stove, dryer, and more, as well as home upgrades like insulation, electrical wiring, weatherization, and more. Here’s a two-page PDF describing the rebates.

City parks officially close at dusk, but this summer, large numbers of teens, and sometimes adults are holding late night pop-up gatherings at some of South Bend's most popular parks, including Kelly Park. Northeast neighbors have reported loud music coming from the park and a large number of cars parked along Howard and adjacent streets. Leaders representing the NENC and other neighborhood associations will meet with police and parks officials this week. A summary of that meeting will be covered when the NENC meets on Monday, August 10, at 5:30 p.m. Come to the firehouse or attend via Zoom.

More than 250 community members, including 14 South Bend police officers, enjoyed tacos, ice cream, live performances, and games at the Robinson Community Learning Center’s annual Cops and Community event. Pictured above is SBPD Patrolman Jalen Lee, our neighborhood's community resource officer. 

The Notre Dame Club of St Joseph Valley recently donated to the Northeast Neighborhood Food Pantry $3,000, raised through a golf scramble. Pictured with pantry manager Nan Tulchinsky are Tom O’Connor, left, and Pete Cahill, president of the Club. Did you know more than 600 people receive food from the pantry each month? 

When something big is going on at the stadium, the Northeast Neighborhood can feel the excitement. Below are some fall events, including a concert and home football games, that could impact traffic patterns and parking. 

As if the newly constructed homes on the east side of Turnock Street are not enough to turn your head...now the street is sporting brand new sidewalks, thanks to the city of South Bend! If this looks like a place you would like to live, there are four affordable townhomes available to purchase and, soon, four apartments, all through the NNRO. Interested in learning more? Email the NNRO through South Bend Heritage.

Five Corners is a multi-use project that includes retail, condo, and apartment units, located at the southeast corner of Corby Boulevard and Indiana 23. The name pays homage to the former "five corners" intersection on which it sits. The project was developed by Holladay Properties, a regional firm that has been investing in South Bend for more than 50 years. Five Corners features 108 apartments, with some reserved for low income budgets. Email Five Corners for rental info.

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