It’s been many years since we had a post office in Southland, but now we have a U.S. Postal Service again. In case you missed the newspaper article, PIP Printers at 433 Southland Drive has a contract to provide a full range of postal services. This time and money saver is provided at regular rates.

In case you’d wondered, our Southland Drive bridge painting project is now completed. We have a primer, intermediate and finish coat on all steel surfaces, plus an additional finish coat on the weather side. This Hi-Tech specialized urethane bridge paint for steel has been donated by Homer Hart, Southland Association member, and President of Environmental Protective Coatings. The concrete abutments and wing walls have been primed and finished with top quality Coronado Paint that has been donated by Jason Taylor, Southland Association member and owner of Perspectives. There is a problem with a rust stain residue that rain washes down off the top plate of the 48″ high girder and it deposits on the leading edge of the bottom girder plate. This is a result of not being able to paint the top of the plate, which has wooden railroad ties resting directly on top of it. The same is true with residue that washes down over the concrete abutments. Rest assured there are no actual paint failures involved. We have applied enough paint to provide excellent protection for many years.

Lexington Healing Arts Academy (LHAA) celebrates the opening of our new classroom building and Yoga Center with an Open House, August 15, 2008 from 5:00-7:00 PM. Everyone is invited to sit in on sample massage, anatomy and Yoga classes, learn about a Hot Stone treatment, explore aromatherapy and tour the campus. Students will offer chair massage and our Admissions/Financial Aid Director will be on hand to answer your questions about the Massage Therapy program. Learn about our Yoga Teacher Training program, Yoga classes, workshops and the various massages offered in our clinic. The public is invited to attend. Lexington Healing Arts Academy is located at 272 Southland Drive near Regency Road. For further information call 859.252.5656.

At a press conference on July 16th. Brain Wright, Manager, External Affairs, for Kentucky American Water, announced that we were selected as a recipient of their 2008 Environmental Grant Program funds. Kentucky American’s environmental grants support innovative, community - based, environmental projects that improve, restore and/or protect watersheds and community water supplies through partnerships, or educate others regarding these activities.

Mayor Jim Newberry, KAW President Nick Rowe, and others were featured speakers at the press conference, which was held at the future site of the Good Foods Rain Garden. This soon to be completed project is a result of many hours of pro-bono work done by Scott Southall, Landscape Architect for CDP Engineers, along with Russ Turpin, Environmental Specialist for EcoGro. Scott and Russ are Commercial Coordinators for the Bluegrass Rain Garden Alliance, and they will continue with the design and construction supervision of our Southland Commercial Rain Gardens. At present we have accumulated funding for our projects from the following providers:

• Kentucky American Water: $10,000
• LFUCG Council 3,100
• Good Foods Market & Cafe 2,000
• The Southland Association 2,000

We commend you, our members, for providing the dues support that make it possible for The Southland Association to become involved and participate in worthwhile community projects such as the above.

You all deserve a pat on the back!

May
27 - Stringtown

June
3 - The Blue Dawg
10 - Bluegrass Journeymen
17 - No Tools Loaned
24 - Pickintime

July
1 - Stoney Creek
8 - Driving Rain
15 - Grass Kats
22 - New Kentucky Harvest
29 - Carla Van Hoose

August
5 - Second Time Around
12 - Hollow Wood
19 - Kentucky Blue
26 - Lookout Below

September
2 - To Be Announced
9 - To Be Announced

Dear Southland Association members & friends:

It’s a pleasure to invite you to attend our third Annual Business Meeting, coming up on February 26th at the Oleika Shrine Temple on Southland Drive.

You’re invited to join with our board of directors, other members and guests from 6:30 – 8 p.m. This is a good time for you to invite your business neighbors, who might be interested in joining the Southland Association. Dress is business casual and refreshments will be provided.

We’ll be starting at 6:30 with a social period of about 20 minutes. Next, LFUCG Councilman Don Blevins will speak about his involvement in dealing with the EPA ruling and how this ruling affects us. Following Councilman Blevins will be LFUCG Police officer Keith Gaines, who will speak about his responsibility for Southland graffiti control.

We’ll have our election of directors and then recognize our members who have made significant contributions toward improvements within the Southland community.

Last but not least, this is a reminder that membership dues are payable by March 1st. Please review the dues rate schedule listed on your invoice. If there has been any change in your business that would change your rate, please let us know. We have included a return envelope for your convenience.

Sincerely,

Phil Wyant
President

On Monday, November 12, I proudly accepted an award from Mayor Newberry, on behalf of our Southland Association members, for their efforts regarding Beautification, Tree Planting and Community Activities on Southland Drive. I want everyone to know that their efforts have been officially recognized in this way by The LFUCG Environmental Commission.

Phil Wyant, President of the Southland Association

The bridge painting project starts Monday November 5th at 9:a.m., and is expected to be completed within 5-6 days, depending upon the weather. There may be some work done at night.

The painting crew will make every effort to keep two lanes of traffic open at all times.

We hope that you will help us get the word out to our Southland area residents, customers and other businesses. We want to make every effort to minimize traffic congestion and delays at the bridge.

Please note the below PDF of ALTERNATES ROUTES in and out of Southland. Please feel free to make copies to hand out to employees, friends and neighbors.

Many thanks for your assistance!

http://www.southlandassociation.com/images/Southland%20Drive%20Bridge%20Painting%20Map.pdf

Southland Association director, Crystal Stites, faces a serious medical condition, and her friends are working on a dinner benefit to help raise funds for her medical treatment. Please take a look at the article published in Wednesday’s Herald-Leader below, which explains details.

A dinner benefit is being held in honor of Crystal Stites at the Oleika Temple, 326 Southland Drive, from 4 to 7 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 19. The dinner will be catered by Good Foods Market & Cafe and Chef Josh Moore. The menu will include roast chicken, yellow squash casserole, roasted potatoes, vegetable saute, and fruit cobbler. Live bluegrass music will be provided by Southland Jamboree bands performing between 4 to 6 p.m. Also included is a silent auction, as well as a raffle. Admission is $15. for adults, $5. for children younger than 16.

Buy tickets in advance at Good Foods Market & Cafe at 455 Southland Drive or by contacting Rebecca Lamb at (517) 862-6771 or rebalamb@gmail.com Tickets also will be available at the door.

All proceeds will go to pay for Stites’ medical bills. She was diagnosed with a pancreatic tumor in January 2007, and underwent surgery in April 2007. Surgery was unsuccessful and Crystal needs the help of her community to help pay for medical treatments.

I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Crystal on various Southland Association community projects and events. Crystal, as an unpaid director, has always shared her talents and hard work in very unselfish ways. In spite of her serious medical condition, she continues her work as best she can. I’d like to encourage Southland Association members to try and help Crystal in her special time of need.

Phil Wyant
President
The Southland Association
P.O. Box 4756
Lexington, Ky 40544-4756
Ph: 276-4692
Fax: 276-0662
E-mail: pcwyant@aol.com

The Lexington Farmer’s Market will have their official grand opening on Sunday, May 20th at their Southland Drive Location.

Hours are 11 am - 3 pm

Good Foods Market and Cafe will be back with their cooking demonstrations and samples. Join us for great spring vegetables and bedding plants.

For more information go to lexingtonfarmersmarket.com