The Ronald McDonald house is an amazing resource to so many families, I am so happy that our neighborhood does the luminaries. We have friends who have a very premature baby in a hospital 2 hours from their home and the Ronald McDonald House took a lot of burden off their shoulders. It is such a good organization – if you are not familiar with what the Ronald McDonald house does you should check them out online.

To the neighbor who threw the newsletter away because of the Jack Murphy article, why? Who cares if you like him or not? Do you not like doing things to help kids, particularly at Christmastime? Do you not see that the whole purpose of the lights is to give something to kids who need a little extra help? Personal feelings aside, you have to admit that he helps our neighborhood make a difference. Let’s do something nice and not let something so good be tainted with negative comments. Tis the Season, after all. Bah Humbug… MO 

     I've been working on the Murphy's Kids event since day 1. Several times, I've heard this suggestion of "lets stop giving all this money to Murphy's Kids and give it to the neighborhood instead". I think it's time to clear this up once and for all. The reason the Murphy's Kids Event is such a success is because there are a group of devoted volunteers willing to go to any lengths to make it work. All our spare time and energy are spent soliciting businesses, pro curring donations, working with Jack, and researching how we can make it bigger and better every year so we can help as many children as possible. We work on this project practically all year, there really is no down time. FYI, the very same group of people working on this also handle the Luminary project and sales, put on the Fall Fling, do the Easter Egg Hunt, and the Newsletter, the Neighborhood Clean-up, and manage to do it 95% by donations, costing the neighborhood nothing. Add to that fact the spirit of joy and all the beautifully decorated homes that come with it, and that's what makes it such a success.

So far, 2,410.00 has been collected for Murphy's Kids. It breaks down like this;
1) 500.00 from Margie Phipps, ReMax Reality Consultants
2) 500.00 from Rice Toyota
3) 250.00 from Wendover Pediatrics
4) 460.00 from the efforts of Jim Webb
5) 600,00 in pledges from Jo-Ann Peck, 95% of those coming from outside of the neighborhood.
6) 160.00 cash on hand from Belks Employees
7) Also, all prizes, including the Grand Prize of 1000.00, have been donated by area merchants.

What this means is the fact the only money that Murphy's Kids gets from Guilford Hills is money residents CHOOSE to donate or pay as an entry fee for the decorating contest, and when you ad it up, it's a small percentage. It was decided at the October Board meeting that the GHUC should be dedicated to the unity of the Neighborhood, not raising money. All agreed each sub-committee should be responsible for raising it's own money, and the Newsletter Committee and the Beautification Committee are perfect examples of how that works if people are willing to do the work! The newsletter is paying for itself through solicited ads and beautification has organized their wreath sale to raise monies for their projects. It was also decided a separate fund raising committee should be formed to raise money solely for the GHUC, or the 'Neighborhood', if you please. I would like to suggest that everyone who has so strongly objected to the Murphy's Kids Campaign redirect their energies to the Chairing and formation of said fund raising committee. If all of you are willing to work as hard as we do and be as devoted, you'll have no trouble at all raising money to 'build' the Neighborhood. I would be glad to help in any way I can. Jo-Ann Peck

     Is there a way to have an e-mail announcement system for events?  We are fairly new to the neighborhood (November) but looking forward to  getting involved. We didn't know about the Egg Hunt until just yesterday (the day before) when we saw signs. Wished we had heard earlier. A mass e-mail to residents who would sign up on the website would be a great addition and easy way to communicate events. Thanks

** Your suggestion is very valuable.  This method does exist for Guilford Hills.  To sign up for the email feature, just click here and complete the form.

     We need to do something about the children playing in the streets. I am not speaking of the ones who are respectful. I and another car were coming down Fernwood. The kids with the basketball goal have no respect for drivers or cars going by. I was going about 5 mph as I and slowly approached the boys who would not get out of the way of a white sedan coming my way. They actually continued playing and he had to swerve around them heading toward me in my lane. The boy who lives in the house in front of the goal, threw his ball from the other side of the street as I was about 2 feet from the goal. I stopped to avoid him as the ball bounced and hit my car. The fact that he threw the ball after looking at me showed his disrespect and the fact he hit my car as a result has infuriated me! I will no longer slow down for your rude children who play hoops. They now need to get out of my way! I will go 25mph as its the legal speed limit. Its is not legal for children to play in the streets!

* This was reported by more than one person.