Greetings friends & neighbors!
The holidays are here and with that comes a fast approach to the end of another year. We’ve seen a good deal go on within our neighborhood…a lot of activity.
The year started quietly but picked up quickly as Spring arrived.
The application by Westminster church for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the installation of a digital sign began a long journey in April. Well intentioned discussions and very honest and open dialogue with the team from Westminster has shown us how “neighbors” should address disagreements. However, we remain in disagreement over the application. This situation will play itself out over the coming months as the issue is slated for final resolution at either the meeting in December or January. We, as an organization, will stand in opposition of the application.
May brought us our annual membership Pot Luck Dinner and meeting which had record attendance. We also saw the Peoria Marathon literally run through our neighborhood. We received a number of accolades from the event organizer regarding our hospitality and support.
Early June saw the 34th Annual Moss Avenue Antique Sale & Festival bloom into a great success. With record participation and attendance, the event will help MBRA with its annual Hanging of the Greens as well as help seed further re-investment into our neighborhood.
Past re-investment activities have included antique stop sign posts and purchasing shares in the Moss Bradley Revolving Fund. Tentative plans for this year’s proceeds are to continue to invest in antique stop sign posts further into the neighborhoods and with a few more successful sales continue that process until the entire Moss Bradley neighborhood has these stop sign posts.
July brought us two items of note: The Annual Fourth of July concert and interest in the old Washington School location. A beautiful summer day greeted nearly 150 neighbors as we savored Spotted Cow ice cream, children rode ponies and we all listened to the Peoria Pops.
This was quickly followed by a membership meeting to discuss two RFP’s that had been presented to the City of Peoria for the purchase of Washington School -most notably from Montessori School. A presentation was held followed by a vibrant question and answer session. Membership voted on approval of the RFP which was presented to the City of Peoria and then approved by the city council. The purchase of Washington School by Montessori is still in process as the team from Montessori works through a number of challenges that have arisen. It continues to be their hope to complete the purchase and begin school in the fall of 2015.
Much has happened this year and we all have a lot to be thankful for. I invite all of you to attend our Annual Holiday party which takes place on Friday, December 5th at the home of Jim Adams. Details for this event can be found within the newsletter. And don’t forget to take part in the Peoria Historical Society’s “Splendor of Christmas Past”, a tour of five historical homes in two historic districts of Peoria. The tours take place on Saturday, December 6th and Sunday December 7th. You can find more information within this newsletter or by visiting the PHS website at peoriahistoricalsociety.org.
From the Board of Directors for the Moss Bradley Residential Association, we wish all of you a Happy Holidays and prosperous New Year!
Brian Buralli
Motor Mites Hours Expand in November
Of course, my final suggestion and my absolute favorite find of the year is Gus & Me. Written by Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, this is a charming, charming picture book full of love. It is the story of Keith’s relationship with his grandfather, Gus, who introduced him to music. So beautifully and simply illustrated by the Richards’ daughter, Theodora, (named after Gus) it is a must read. If you don’t feel like reading it there is a CD in the back – Keith will read it to you. I am in complete awe of the fact that Keith Richards is a devoted family man living in Connecticut, father of five children with five grandchildren, still married to Patti after all these years – Hardcover, published by Hanchette Book Group, Inc. the book sells for $18.00. A perfect choice for everyone! 
