A Season of Thanksgiving and Celebration

November 12, 2025

by Donna Hemann

I told myself in 2025 this Public Policy Blog would not focus on our seemingly endless zoning issue, yet it has. I suppose that may have been inevitable, given the importance of the matter and this blog being a reliable place for neighbors to get facts. This month, however, is different. It embraces the season, which is about gratitude and celebration. In that spirit, here are ten things University Heights residents are grateful for.

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays~~

We Are Grateful For:

~Great Communication and support among neighbors! Our Facebook Page is a place where we alert each other to potential crime threats and ask for referrals to trustworthy businesses when we need something, particularly when we need home fixes. It's a news and celebration forum, where we keep informed about events and happenings, and where we celebrate cool things we do as individuals and as an Association to make our hood safe, happy, and place of pride. This Blog is another source of communication, keeping residents informed about important public policy issues that affect us.

~Trees! UH is a shining example of valuing trees' beauty and benefits. In our semi-urban jungle, neighbors regularly celebrate the beauty of our trees and take care to keep them healthy. We understand their importance in flood and pollution control, and in providing a haven for our wild friends.

~Interesting Architecture! We are grateful to live in a neighborhood with diverse, unique, and historic architecture. Many styles and eras are represented, making it a visual feast as we walk, cycle and drive through.

~Generous Neighbors! We are grateful to live in a place where people create little book and puzzle libraries, offer free plants, produce, and flowers from their abundant gardens, furniture, and all manner of things, and do lots of volunteer work to support good causes.

~Smart Cookies! We're grateful to have so many learned people here, be they life learned or book learned with post-nominal letters after their name. Our neighbors are full of knowledge and wisdom and share it freely!

~Talent! We're not just smart cookies in UH but talented too! We're grateful for our business people, handymen and women, craftspeople, painters, cooks, singers, actors, writers, seamstresses, teachers, garden artists, woodwookers, musicians, health care angels...you get the picture!

~Eco-Conscious Neighbors! Despite being a semi-urban neighborhood, many residents are strong advocates for protecting environmental health. Neighbors are interested in water quality, minimizing pesticide use, planting native species, and providing pollinator habitats to name a few areas of interest. Those who do not consider themselves "environmentalists" benefit from their neighbors' passions, making UH eco-consciousness a win for everyone!

~Commitment to Care! UH people care about the neighborhood. We care about our homes, the welfare of our neighbors, the safety of our streets. We invest money and time to reflect those values. Homes are regularly renovated, updated and restored. We keep in contact with authorities, including our PAR officer to stay on top of safety concerns. If someone needs help, we organize to assist.

~We Know How to Party! We create get togethers, from Fourth of July blowouts, to annual picnics, ice cream socials and driveway gatherings, to strengthen bonds, a sense of community and to relax and get to know each other better.

~We're Progressive and Traditional! UH strikes a beautiful balance between 'progress' and tradition. We've embraced (though at times with gritted teeth or outright discontent) commercial development all around us, but kept intact our 'inner core' of historic, residential homes. This is a unique feature among non-gated neighborhoods in Springfield and we are both proud and grateful!

PS: As of now, our zoning issue may be before Planning and Zoning again on November 20th, then before City Council December 15th. Check our FB Page and your email for updates. Residents are encouraged to attend for moral support or to speak.

Until December, or the next public hearings,
Continue Enjoying Where we Call Home