After attending the Bauler Park Halloween party on Sunday, Oct. 25, it really hit home once again what a fabulous neighborhood we live in! There were literally hundreds of goblins and ghosts accompanied by their parents. Everyone was having a ball. It was truly a neighborhood happening. It struck me that more and more cherish city living and the opportunity to socialize with other neighbors in the area.

Alderman Vi Daley (right) and Janet Owen, LCA member, served as judges for the Halloween costume contest.

Because everyone is so busy these days, and because of the tough economic times, on-going local issues often seem relegated to a back seat. So now is the time that we really need to work toward the same goals of maintaining our homes, the parkways, the streets, and our parks. It is essential to support real estate values as well as the life style we enjoy.

There are many opportunities for all of us to make a difference, big and small. If you see some trash in front of your house, pick it up. If you eyeball graffiti on some wall, call the graffiti blasters. If you need assistance with other issues, call us or the Alderman. Now is not the time to be lax. In the big picture, daily incidental caring is pales in comparison to the many wonderful things that we have in our area. We need to make every effort to preserve our families. And need to put forth effort to keep our neighborhoods clean and neat and safe for all of us. We should be eager to reach to a neighbor in need of an assist.

LCA members, along with many residents, are constantly endeavoring to maintain to preserve and enhance the quality of life in our area. The result of these efforts have been significant. But the job is never done. And our ranks can never be too big or too active.

So please talk to your friends and neighbors about, first, joining the LCA, and, second, becoming an active member of the organization. Strength in numbers very much applies to our organization. We need to grow our members and foster more participation in LCA.

Spread the word. Get people to sign up. Get that neighbor to attend our meetings. Get involved.

Someone once observed: There are people who make things happen. There are people who watch things happen. And there are people who are always wondering "what happened?."

Be a proud member of the first group. We'll thank you for it. And, best of all, you'll thank yourself.

Rodger A. Owen - President
Lincoln Central Association