UMNA

Welcome to UMNA

The Upper Monroe Neighborhood Association (UMNA) is a not-for-profit advocacy group representing the 3,300 residents and property owners in the Upper Monroe Neighborhood. 

If you live in our neighborhood, please Join UMNA. Be sure to check our events Calendar and get all the news.  Also, City of Rochester | Monroe Branch Library 809 Monroe Avenue    Rochester, NY 14607.   Find out this month's library program at this month's programs.

Sign up to our E-mail List for the latest buzz on UMNA area happenings. Also, you can now pay your UMNA membership dues ONLINE by clicking here: Join UMNA And, if you've got something to say about the Upper Monroe Neighborhood, say it on Nextdoor Upper Monroe.

"The Upper Monroe neighborhood exemplifies the best of the Monroe Urban Village. Residents can easily access the ingredients essential to comfortable city living - retail, restaurants and recreation resources - within walking distance of their homes. Its boundaries are marked at the north by Route 490, south at the city line with the Town of Brighton, east on Culver Road, and west to Field Street." - City of Rochester | Southeast Neighborhoods - Upper Monroe

This site will keep you informed about all the important resources and events in the Upper Monroe Neighborhood. 

Community Notes:

• 1st of the year annual UMNA dues are due.  You can now pay UMNA dues online: Here.  

• Public Forum: Development in Preservation Districts Tuesday | May 21 | 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. | The Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word, 597 East Ave. | Free and open to the public. The Landmark Society is partnering with the Park-Meigs Neighborhood Association to hold a public forum on the evening of Tuesday, May 21. Up for discussion: the timely and controversial topic of new development in preservation districts. A panel of speakers, representing developers, homeowners, business owners, urban planners, and The Landmark Society, will offer their perspective, followed by an open question and answer session. These are just some of the questions we’ll try to address: Can new development benefit preservation districts? How can the new co-exist with the old? What is “good” development?

• Washington Grove Volunteer Day May 25 Dear Friends of Washington Grove We will be holding our first Volunteer Work Day of 2013 on Saturday, May 25. TIME: 9 a.m. to about 11:00.  LOCATION: Meet at the kiosk below the pine trees at the top of the Reservoir road. TASKS:  Our primary task will be to plant some new native trees and shrubs purchased by the City with funds raised by the Friends of Washington Grove to celebrate the 100'th anniversary of the Grove.  We will plant 20 plants consisting of a mix of trees: white oaks, black oaks, scarlet oaks, and pignut hickory; and two species of viburnum.  All of the plants are native to the area and have been selected in keeping with the nature of the forest as it has evolved and preserving it for the next 100 years.  It is certainly within the realm of possibility that the trees planted this year will be living 200 or more years from now to inspire future generations of visitors to the Grove. If enough volunteers come to finish the planting quickly, we can use help with removing autumn olive and invasive English Ivy and winter creeper as well as knocking off sprouts form Norway maple stumps that are trying to regrow. WHAT TO BRING:  Dress for the weather that day.  We will plant rain or shine.  Bring work gloves and a good garden shovel if you have one for digging the holes. Thanks very much.  We look forward to seeing you next Saturday morning. Sincerely, Friends of Washington Grove

• The Armory at Culver  City Council approved the requested zoning change for the Armory on 5/14, paving the way for the developer to build housing at the west end and develop the second building that lies near the middle of the property.  Construction is expected to start soon. 

• Monroe Village Farmers' Market  Opens June 12 The Peas are Up!  Pretty soon our dreams of sweet peas and spinach and asparagus, and soon after, strawberries will be a reality!   Enjoy and Hope to see you soon at the market's opening and each week through the season.

• Community Composting – Don’t compost at home?  This is for you if you are not already a composter.  Help curb the construction of new landfills and earn back compost for your garden.  Check this out and sign up at https://www.communitycomposting.org/

• Adopt-a-Hydrant North Greece, NY has an ‘Adopt-aHydrant’ program for the winter months, where folks “take on the responsibility of any cleaning (of snow or other debris) from around their hydrant.” We may adopt a similar program here in Upper Monroe next winter. In the meantime, while you pine away for the snows to come again, for the safety of all, you can help keep our neighborhood re hydrants free of parked cars. Simply call 911 for those illegally parked cars that could hamper the work of the re department and endanger lives. The City of Rochester takes parking in front of our fire hydrants seriously: the fine for parking less than 15 feet from a hydrant is now $100. 

• THE BIG LUNCH |  June 1st will be a big day in our neighborhood and all along the Avenue.   New Life Church is busy planning and preparing to host The Big Lunch for all of us! (Did you know -  it’s the fifth annual worldwide happening to foster community, first started across the pond in England.)  Get out your calendars because you are invited.  And - Are you a musician? Play in a band? Juggle? Been known to paint faces?  The planning committee is looking for entertainment – email John Thomas at jnthomas@frontiernet.net if you’d like to know more. 

• Big Book Sale Monroe Branch Library, 809 Monroe Ave. Saturday, June 1, 3-6 pm & Sunday, June 2, 11 am – 4 pm   Stop by our Big Book Sale for lots of great bargains on books and audiovisual materials for all ages!  Also join us for a special classical guitar performance at 4 pm on Saturday—Eastman School doctoral candidate Sungmin Shin will present a program of music in the Spanish and Latin American tradition.   All book sale proceeds directly benefit Monroe Branch!

• The SHOW ON MONROE  Call for Scavenger Hunt Teams: Saturday | June 1 | All Along the Avenue A Celebration of the Historic Wicked Crazy Monroe Avenue. Live Music, Cool Activities, Great Fun all day.  Our inaugural Show On Monroe is a collaborative event organized by residents, property owners and merchants.  Among the many events, SEAC is organizing a Scavenger Hunt, the AVE SCAV, from 1 – 4pm.  BE among the first 20 – 25 teams of two to participate. There will be 15 stops along the avenue.  What’s in it for you --- FUN, more than $250 in prizes so far going to the first and second place teams and a random winner among those teams that finish.  Grab a partner and go to the Info and Registration forms attached.     If anyone has a talent they are itching to perform or know someone who fits the bill, contact Cathy Bileti at buskersonmonroe@gmail.com. 

• Upper Monroe BoulevART Planning Team meeting.  If you would like to help out with this neighborhood-building and traffic calming event, please contact John Thomas ( jnthomas@frontiernet.net )

• Landmark Society of Western NY 43rd Annual House & Garden Tour Saturday & Sunday | June 8 and 9 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | $18/members, $22 non-members |  A quiet residential retreat – yet steps from one of the most exciting areas in Rochester. That’s the treat in store for tour-goers at this year’s House and Garden Tour, in a neighborhood to the south of Park Avenue. Homeowners on the beautiful Westminster Road, the charming Canterbury Road, and other streets in the area are opening their homes for you. There will be 10 private homes to tour, as well as an architecturally significant school. Most have not been open for a tour in 20 years – and two of them have never been open to the general public. Online sales are now open for this one-of-a-kind tour!

• Neighborhood Seed Library at the Monroe Branch library | Join the neighborhood seed exchange! Beginning today, May 7, get free vegetable, flower and herb seeds (including some heirloom) from the Children's Room of the Monroe Branch library (809 Monroe Avenue) to plant in your own garden. When you pick up your seeds, also take some envelopes. In the Fall when you harvest your goodies, gather and dry some of the seeds your plants produced, stick them in your envelope, label and bring them back for someone to "borrow" next year. Check out Monroe Branch Children's Room  for pictures and details. Library hours are:  Mon 12:00-8:00, Tues 10:00-6:00, Wed 12:00-8:00, Thurs 12:00-6:00, Fri 12:00-6:00, Sat 10:00-2:00, Sun Closed. Telephone: 585-428-8202

• When is trash day?  In the Upper Monroe Avenue Neighborhood, and the City of Rochester, we have one trash day per week.  This keeps our streets free from garbage and noise.  Putting your trash out to the curb only on trash day helps our streets looking nice and keeps litter from blowing off.  Usually, if the Monday is an official holiday (check here for the City of Rochester Environmental Services Guide to be sure) pickup will be one-day later than the usual pickup day.

• The Avenue Diner (formerly Gitsis) 600 Monroe Avenue Change is in the air and down the street:  The Avenue Diner (formerly Gitsis) is open for business at 600 Monroe Avenue with hours limited to 6am-11pm Mon-Sat and 6am-10pm Sunday.  Both the exterior and the interior have received a very nice makeover, while the menu retains its large selection of Greek and American diner offerings.  Let them know you support their family-friendly focus by stopping in often!

• Landmark Society of Western NY 43rd Annual House & Garden Tour Saturday & Sunday | June 8 and 9 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | $18/members, $22 non-members | A quiet residential retreat – yet steps from one of the most exciting areas in Rochester. That’s the treat in store for tour-goers at this year’s House and Garden Tour, in a neighborhood to the south of Park Avenue. Homeowners on the beautiful Westminster Road, the charming Canterbury Road, and other streets in the area are opening their homes for you. There will be 10 private homes to tour, as well as an architecturally significant school. Most have not been open for a tour in 20 years – and two of them have never been open to the general public. Online sales are now open for this one-of-a-kind tour!

• Financial Assistance for home repairs.  See the attached flyer for useful information.

• Safety Notes: As always, feel free to contact Brian Bannerman, Crime Prevention Officer with any questions or concerns.  Rochester NY Police Department,  East Division / SENSC, 846 S. Clinton Av. Rochester NY 14620, Office: 585-428-7647 

  • Be informed and aware.  And for the sake of the entire neighborhood, if you see something that doesn’t look right, please, call it in!  Always! With the glorious weather, more people out and about, though not all of whom are welcome.  Attached are two RPD notices regarding scam artists and Energy Company door to door solicitations.  RPD has also provided the following two links:   

    • The link below provides valuable instructions on how to receive important information through our Hyperlink system on your cell phone.   Don't have a landline? Here's how you can sign-up for reverse 911 calls

    • The link below provides valuable information on how to avoid becoming a victim when buying or selling on Craigslist.   Protecting yourself from Craiglist robberies and scams

  • Electronic Device safety… Crime Prevention Bulletin from RPD – Police report an increase in cell phone, iPod and, iPads robberies throughout the Southeast Area, including Upper Monroe including from pedestrians.  Police flyer attached with safety suggestions.

  • Beware of scam: "Our Police Locust Club has advised us that they have heard reports of a company or individuals seeking phone solicitations for the “PBA” (Police Benevolent Association).  Please be advised that none of our local PBA’s (Police Unions) conduct phone solicitations.  This is more than likely a scam.  Police Organizations rarely , if ever solicit donations. If you are contacted by anyone for this purpose, ask for a contact name and phone number so that I can investigate the matter further. If you get contact information from a “PBA” solicitor, please forward that information to me. Thank you. "Brian Bannerman, Crime Prevention Officer, Rochester NY Police Department, East Division / SENSC, 846 S. Clinton Av., Rochester NY 14620, Office: 585-428-7647

Community News of interest

• Condos and offices planned for Culver Road Armory  Fred Rainaldi, Jr. presented residents and community leaders with plans for a second phase of development at the Culver Road Armory site at a neighborhood meeting last night. The plans, which call for building a 40,000-square-foot commercial building and a five-story, 10-unit residential complex, would fully develop the 10.4-acre site (February 22, 2013) Rochester City Newspaper

Some useful documents for our area:

Neighborhood Service Center "NSC is based on the notion that the best way of responding to neighborhood issues is by teaming residents with city staff to devise and achieve effective solutions, supported by the full resources of “City Hall”. This approach brings City government closer to you and your neighborhood so quality of life issues can be addressed more quickly and effectively."  For the UMNA area go to: City of Rochester | Southeast Quadrant Service Center

• Call or visit your Neighborhood Quadrant Service Center for assistance. Common Property Complaints Illegal property uses Abandoned/unlicensed vehicles Overgrown lots Trash & Debris Blighted properties Unsafe or vacant structures Front yard parking Excessive noise Public Safety Concerns Drug house locations Disorderly people, illegal activities & public disturbances Crime Prevention Information PAC-TAC and Neighborhood Watch Programs Other nuisance activities which occur chronically at a location If you would like to submit a complaint regarding a specific property online, please complete this form

The Center for Youth Services 905 Monroe Ave Rochester, NY 14620 585-473-2464

Monroe Branch Library 809 Monroe Avenue Rochester, NY 14607  | Get this month's programs here: Library

Always something going on at your local library: lectures, films, courses, readings, and even deals passes; Passes on George Eastman House This pass is good for up to five discounted adult general admissions to GEH--$6 per adult versus the normal $12 regular admission.   GEVA The GEVA pass is a buy one full price ticket, get the second at half price pass. It is good for the six regular GEVA mainstage shows that will be running August 2012-June 2, 2013.   Rochester Museum & Science Center This one is buy one admission to the museum or planetarium and get one admission of equal or lesser value free.   Memorial Art Gallery The MAG pass is good for up to four discounted adult admissions ($6 fee versus the normal $12) and free admission for up to four children ages 6-18.