Minutes 05-30-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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that time in Northside, where he has watched many changes in this neighborhood. He said he recently participated in a memorable project in that area in which the workers came upon a civil war wall. He said support from the County is critical to the success of the program. Keith Edwards lives in the Northside Community, and he showed a newsletter that neighborhood residents receive each month with news and events. This newspaper has a section called "Ask Keith", in which she tries to find out information and shares it with her community. One question from the April newsletter asked her to share her experience working with the Brush with Kindness program. She said her experience was unbelievable, and she was amazed by the human kindness she received. She said her house and her deck now remind her of the people that helped restore them. She said these people gave her a lifetime gift, and she asked the Board of County Commissioners to support the Brush of Kindness program. She also asked the Board to fully fund the schools. Willie Mae Patterson said she appreciates Habitat and the work the group did around her house and yard through the Brush of Kindness program. She said she hopes the Board will fund this program. Glenda Wade lives in Cedar Grove, and she knew about Habitat through her work with Stanback Middle School. She said Brush for Kindness came out and beautified her home. She asked, on behalf of single parents like herself, that the Board help fund the Brush with Kindness program. She also asked for full funding for the school system. James Stroud spoke on behalf of his mom, who took advantage of the Brush with Kindness program for her home and yard. He said that the work done by this program helped his mother to avoid having to sell her home. He asked that the Board please fund this program. Adward Assure is community development manager for Habitat for Humanity. She thanked all the residents who have spoken on behalf of the Brush with Kindness program. She said this program serves all of Orange County. She said collaboration is a big aspect of Habitat, and the group has worked with many local programs to complete these exterior upgrades. She said that the program continues to grow and thrive. There have been 27 new applications since February of this year. She said the need is high and all resources are put to good use. She said the program gives a way for students and local volunteers to help and to give back. She hopes to double the work done last year and requests that the Board fund this program. Alexis Ross has two children in the CHCCS. She said that school officials have asked parents to be patient as the schools work through cuts made on a national level. She said she feels dismayed that, as the national economy is slowly recovering, the local government wants residents to accept less than the full funding being requested by schools. She represents the Sewall Elementary PTA and said this group of residents is willing to pay higher taxes to accomplish that funding. Jen Bishop is a representative of the Sewall Elementary School Improvement Team and has two children at the school. She asked the Board to fully fund their school's request, even in the face of the state political climate. She said people choose to live in Orange County because of the school systems. She said it is vital that these schools be fully funded. Myles Faith said he represents local residents, and he would like to ask the Board of County Commissioners to expedite the Twin Creeks Recreation Park plan. He said these are beautiful plans for a park that has been called a crown jewel by the Parks Department. He said residents are concerned by the lack of any progress in this area. He said last year there were $1.5 million in designated funds in the CIP, but it is not there this year. He said the bulk of the funding was about$8 million in the later years, and now it has been pushed back to 2018. This was a commitment by Orange County and the Parks Department that would serve the