My arborist, who I hired to trim branches, was down on his hands and knees by a tree, digging around it. “What are you doing?” “I’m exposing the root flare of this tree?” “Why?” “Because the tree has a beautiful root flare. Look.”

The root flare did indeed make a very attractive pattern at the base of the tree. The tree had toes! “Look at that! Who knew?!!” “I did. I wanted to show you.”  

Around all of my trees, the grass and soil had grown over and wholly or partially obscured the root flare. I dug around the base of my other trees to expose their root flares. I love it. You might, too.

Addendum:  When is the best time to plan a tree? Twenty years ago! Second best time? Now! Then in 20 years there will be trees. Don’t wait. If you don’t plant them for yourselves, plant them for the house, for the residents over the next 100 years, for the neighborhood ambiance. Trees are good.

As the head of HR at the Fortune 500 company BorgWarner, with 29,000 employees, she was interviewed about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and her work within her company to increase diversity in her world wide company.

Click here for Crains Detroit article

In a challenging time, Boston-Edison neighbors came together to spread love and cheer with art and positive messages. In late June sixty bags of sidewalk chalk were distributed to children and adult artists in the neighborhood.

The result was awesome! Nearly every block had at least one house with a colorful front sidewalk! There was lots of creativity - hopscotches, geometric pathways, ocean scenes, hearts and rainbows, famous characters, and messages of love, safety, and equity.  Walkers, bikers, and other passersby enjoyed pieces for over a week before the rain.

A selection of the art is below for your enjoyment online. Thank you to all participants! Cassi Meitl

Click here to see slideshow of pictures 

If you missed the 2020 Annual Meeting or would just like to review the materials again, see below for the presentation:

Something special and humane happens when people come together—barriers are broken, and hearts and minds become more open.

As the world grapples with the acts of the killings and injustice against George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and countless others before them, and, as we witness the stark inequities that have led to the disproportionate impact of this pandemic on the lives and deaths of Black individuals, the Historic Boston Edison Association Board wants to assert in the clearest possible terms our support for our Black neighbors, families, friends, and associates.

We stand in solidarity with our community as we demand justice and seek healing.

Parts  of our mission are to encourage a greater community bond among neighbors; and, promote culture and civic engagement for residents who  live within the District and beyond; therefore, we recognize that during the most challenging of times we need to focus on bringing our community made of people of all colors together to heal through the power of shared experiences

Our future as a community and as a society relies on doing this work. It relies on understanding — on a willingness to understand — the intricate hurdles faced by Black people in this country and the injustice woven into the core structures of our society. There is no one way to do this. There is no simple path. However, we must take the first step of being unafraid to be uncomfortable. We have seen some glimmers of hope these past weeks as people have come together to kneel in solidarity, to march peacefully together in protest, and to use our American right to speak out for freedom for ALL. We need to ensure that this moment will lead to lasting change and real action and that we do not retreat into our places of inward-looking comfort.

The Historic Boston Edison Association Board is dedicated to pressing for lasting change. We are actively listening and learning so we can better understand how to play a more positive role in eliminating all forms of racism, bigotry, and hatred. We understand bringing permanent change to a systemic problem will require our continued involvement and commitment which we must demonstrate with our words and actions. The previously established Diversity and Inclusion Committee within our Association’s operational structure will be activated to support these efforts. If you wish to join this Committee, please let us know. The Board is invested in modeling and providing an environment that allows for the positivity and connectedness our community requires to sustain our efforts to ensure our neighbors are supported in healing and learning to better incorporate an understanding and deeper tolerance of uniqueness.

Let us meet these current unprecedented crises with our unprecedented actions and help change the world for the better – TOGETHER!

We, the Historic Boston Edison Association Board of Directors stand with open minds and hearts. We are here for all our neighbors to listen, to stand together, and work together for change.

In Unity, the Historic Boston Edison Association Board of Directors

We hope that you are well and staying safe during the COVID-19 health crisis.

Recently we received an update on the percentage of Census Information returns. The May 4, 2020 report below represents District 5 Census Standings:

Although we are at 50 percent return, we can and must do better.

If you have not completed your census, do so immediately. Encourage your neighbors to complete the census right now. Also encourage your family and friends to do the same, no matter where they live.

This is way too important for our future and it does not take a long time to complete. We hope that when we receive the next update we will be approaching a 100 percent return.

We're all counting on you.

WHEREAS, longevity of life is a blessing for a centenarian, and for the community which benefits from the wealth of knowledge, leadership, humanity, and experiences Mrs. Elma W. Peddy brings to all; and

WHEREAS, the Historic-Boston Edison Association recognizes with respect and admiration the profound contributions to her family, and our community; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Elma W. Peddy was born May 4, 1920, in Yazoo City, Mississippi. The second child of five, she seized life with zeal and purpose. Taught unbridled self-reliance by her parents, Rev. David Daniel, and Delessie Willis, a young Mrs. Peddy toured the State of Mississippi, singing with her then-young siblings called the Willis Singers. In high school, she was active in the Glee Club and the Drama Club and always garnered leading roles in productions, singing, and acting. Her interest and talent in the arts would serve her family later in life; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Peddy was married to the late William Adolph Peddy, and together they raised four children-James, Paul, Wendelin and William. In July 1958, the Peddys moved to Longfellow Street in Boston-Edison, exposing each of her children to the arts and educational opportunities, producing musicians, actors, educators, accountants, and computer engineers; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Peddy attended Oakland Community College, Highland Park College of Nursing, Madonna College of Nursing, and Wayne State University, College of Lifelong Learning, graduating as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (expanding the role of the registered nurse). Due to her love of service and her love of children, Mrs. Peddy helped to pioneer a new and expanded role in the Nursing profession, caring for young mothers and their babies. This was utilized by the Health Department and the Metropolitan Hospital Pediatric Department, and helped develop the teaching model that trains more Nurse Practitioners; and

WHEREAS, attributable to her undying love for the arts, along with her family, she founded the "Peddy Players Theatre Company," which gained State recognition for its work as the number one Black Theatre Company in the State of Michigan. The Company hosted a 25 nation International Theatre Festival Olympiad, held in Detroit, becoming the only local Black Theatre Company, booked in Detroit’s Historic Fisher Theater. Under her direction, the company explored an idea: art forms used in the musical theater could increase reading and writing skills in school-age youth. Thus, The Youth Theater reading and writing program became a part of the Company's itinerary. Over the years, thousands of youth ages 3 to 18 received training through alliances with public schools, recreation centers, churches; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Peddy has served in leadership positions in her Church, Sorority, and Community. As a member of Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Beta Chapter she dedicated 65 years, receiving several awards and served in various capacities to include Basileus, Northern Regional Director and Vice President of the Gamma Phi Delta Sorority Foundation in 1999. From 1995-1999, the servant leader was appointed to the Kellogg Youth Foundation Planning Committee, and in 1999 General Chair Lady for the 75th Anniversary Metropolitan Baptist Church; and

WHEREAS, Her humanitarianism has been duly noted through her affiliations as a: Life Member, NAACP; Michigan Nurses Association; Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., Detroit Chapter Member; Metropolitan Baptist Church; Wayne County Citizens for Better Education; Associate Member, North Carolina A&T Alumni, Detroit Chapter; Considine Recreation Center Advisory Council and merited her numerous prestigious awards including the Spirit of Detroit Awards in 1982, and 1991; and

WHEREAS, today Mrs. Peddy should be honored for 100 years of perpetual love of family, church and community and on her prodigious impact on Nursing and the Arts in the City of Detroit and beyond; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED as we, the Historic Boston-Edison Association, Dianne Bostic Robinson, President of the Board of Directors and the residents of Boston-Edison, declare May 4th 2020 as Elma W. Peddy Day in Boston-Edison as we honor Mrs. Elma Peddy for her exceptional life, and wish her many more years to come. This the 4th Day of May 2020.

Join us for a "drive-by" celebration on May 4th from 3-5pm on Longfellow between Second Ave and Woodward Ave.

What a beautiful and sunny Spring morning we had for this year's Easter Egg Hunt in Voigt Park! This free annual event for Boston-Edison residents took place the Saturday before this year's Easter holiday. We are so happy and encouraged that our youngest neighbors attended and enjoyed themselves, and we take pride in hosting inclusive and family friendly events for everyone to enjoy.