Our community's air, quality of life and property values got a little bit better over the weekend with the planting of 26 shade trees along our streets this past Saturday, October 29th. In what is hoped to become a yearly event, the First Annual Emerson Heights Neighborhood Tree Planting was held on Saturday, October 29th. With the help of Nate Faris, Program/Operations Manager with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB), and 29 volunteers, a variety of trees were given a new home in our neighborhood.

The trees came to us from a grant through KIB as part of their Trees for Tomorrow program. KIB, who partnered with Indianapolis Power & Light and Indy Parks, provided 26 trees, mulch (used to surround the trees), and the tools needed to get the trees planted. Faris delivered the trees and used an auger to dig the initial holes on the Friday before.

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Here are some historic photos of the neighborhood courtesy of longtime Emerson Heights resident Jim Schrum. If you have old photos of the neighborhood we would be glad to help you share them. Contact Kurt Wiegand at webmaster@Emersonheights.org for more information.

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Emerson Heights is part of the Near East Side Community Organization (NESCO), a coalition of more than a dozen active neighborhood associations who work collectively to address issues and challenges on Indianapolis’s east side. Since 1970, NESCO has provided a unified voice for the neighborhoods through its community policing, zoning, code compliance, and liquor license review committees. It has also brought neighbors together at special events such as the annual Feast of Lanterns celebration, its Happy Haunted Halloween party, and its popular pub crawls.

For much of its history NESCO has received funding from the city of Indianapolis, but in recent years that support has dwindled. In the most recent budget the city withdrew financial support entirely. Because of the cuts NESCO is now without an executive director. Though the organization has always relied heavily on volunteers, their support is now more vital than ever.

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On September 17, 2005, the Marion County Alcoholic Beverage Board voted unanimously to deny a liquor license to William Lee. Mr. Lee was attempting to obtain a beer and wine license for Lee’s Bar & Grill to be established at the vacant McShane's Lounge location.

A group of Emerson Heights residents, led by John and Judy Coe and Kurt Wiegand, and representatives of neighborhood groups, area churches, the Mayor’s Office and IPD remonstrated at the licensing hearing. Armed with petitions, signed by residents living within 500 feet of the McShane's location, and letters from various neighborhood organizations including NESCO and Irvington, the Coes and Wiegand laid the groundwork for the defeat.

The decision was not appealed within the 15-day limit. As a result, the McShane's Lounge property is now for sale. If you know of anyone seeking to start a business or move a business to our area, please let them know about this property.

Thank you to the 29 people who attended the hearing. Your presence was a contributing factor to the defeat. This strong showing once again proves that Emerson Heights residents care and that we can make a difference in our community.