 September 2026Sweater weather, baby! As we find ourselves rounding through the end of summer, straight into fall, the Near Eastside is a buzzin'! In this edition of the Temple Oak Times;
See you in the streets, Springdale! Mark Your CalendarsUpcoming Events Sept 26th @ 5 PM : Karaoke Finals Oct. 24th @ 9 AM: Fall Clean-Up Monthly Meeting Date: First Wednesday of the Month Time: 6:30 PM Location: Chinquapin Oak Park 2319 Nowland Ave
Bring a chair! Springdale NewsJoin us Saturday, September 26th 5:00pm at the Mouse Trap to cheer on our neighbors Jon and Kevin, who are competing for a chance at the State Championship of Karoake! See the best of the best from across the state compete for the title of champion karaoke-er. Competing not just in solos, our SASS Master Kevin and fellow Springander Jon will also compete for the top karaoke as a duet. Ok, ok, maybe not exactly Springdale news, but it's a little light this month :-)   Arsenal Tech 5k Shout-out to Springdale for really showing out in support of Arsenal Tech High School! Springdaliens volunteered as course marshalls, rang the starting bell, ran, walked, brought all the joy and fun! Springdale Finishers in the Top 35: Kevin Sawrie, Andrew Verteramo (Verto), Jeff Grossman, Andrea Howard, Louis Lukac. Not Last Place: Chet and Dottie!   Springdale Soil & Spades Hi y'all! It's Rachel, current SNA President, roommate of The Temple Oak, and Purdue Extension Master Gardener Intern. As the temperatures have cooled and we're all excited about our yards and gardens again, I wanted to warn you on SKIPPING THE LANDSCAPE FABRIC this year! We all love doing things fast and easy with immediate results, but landscape fabric is not a long-term solution.
Healthy gardens rely on a living soil ecosystem. Landscape fabric blocks the natural breakdown of organic matter into the ground. Over time, the soil beneath the fabric staves of oxygen and nutrients, becoming compacted and hydrophobic, and essentially dead 
Fabric suppresses weeds for about one season. After that, wind and birds drop fresh dirt and weed seeds directly on top. The weeds sprout and their tough roots weave right through the fabric anyway. 
The fabric slows down water and air infiltration, so plant roots often refuse to dig deep into the native soil. Instead, the roots grow shallow, pancaking horizontally right beneath the fabric layer, leaving your plants dangerously vulnerable to heat stress and drought. 
Most landscape fabric is made out of petroleum-based plastics. Within a few years it breaks down into small scaps that contaminate the soil with microplastics. I don't know about you, but I'm trying to use less plastic, not add MORE to the Earth.  What to Use Instead : Sheet Mulching! Lay down plain, non-glossy cardboard down, soak thoroughly with water, cover with mulch. The cardboard smothers existing weeds, breaks down over a few months, feeds the soil, and doesn't leave behind microplastics. Don't worry, I won't judge you if you use landscape fabric, I completely understand. But if you have some cardboard boxes laying around, try those instead!   WHEN YOU DON'T VOTE, SOMEONE ELSE DECIDES MAKE YOUR VOTING PLAN ✓ Check that you’re registered at VOTE411.org  No sprouts this month. Got a sprout to shout? Reply to this email, we'd love to tell the world (or at least Springdale)! Near Eastside NewsNews From Our Local Friends  Volunteers Needed This Weekend
We need volunteers to help dig the base. We will be meeting at 10 AM on Saturday and Sunday (9/26 and 9/27) at the entrance at E. 21st and Sherman. You can park at the business across the street.   Exciting news! Teachers’ Treasures has been selected as a Target Circle nonprofit—and we need your help! Through Target Circle Community Voting, Target members can vote for participating nonprofits, helping direct Target funding toward organizations making a difference in their communities. Your vote can help us receive funding to provide free, vital school supplies to our educators across Marion County, giving teachers the resources they need to create brighter learning experiences for their students. A vote for Teachers’ Treasures is a vote for local teachers and students.   From our Near Eastside Neighbors at Westminster Neighborhood Services
Please consider volunteering a couple of days a week to assist your neighbors in need. Sign up here.  Do you often find yourself with lots of leftovers?  The Chinquapin Bulletin BoardUpdates from neighbors, lost & found, and general notices We did it again, Springers! Not a single item has been reported lost or found!
If there is ever anything you'd like to share with the neighborhood, or you've misplaced something worth finding, let us know, and we'll spread the word.
Email springdaleindy@gmail.com or reply to this newsletter - we got you.  Want to feature something awesome? Respond to this email or reach out to springdaleindy@gmail.com Newsletter Around the Near EastsideNotable newsletter full of useful Near Eastside information Councilor Jesse Brown email newsletter (District 13) A Guide to Indy’s Near Eastside (Drink, Eat, Shop, Visit, Services) IndyEast Promise Zone email newsletter Near Eastside email newsletter (John H. Boner Community Center) NEAR email newsletter State Senator Andrea Hunley (District 46) email newsletter U.S. Congressman Andre Carson email newsletter Want to add a newsletter? Reply to this email to request an addition. Government ServicesHelpful Numbers, Emails, & Who to Contact  Indiana Government Services  Did you know that you can connect to more than 175 non-emergency city services online at request.indy.gov/citizen/s/? You can report everything from trash problems to zoning violations. And you can include pictures of potholes, for example. Also, response priority is often dependent on the number of complaints, so go ahead and report a problem even if your neighbor already has. Every day if you want! Your Neighborhood VolunteersDidn't find an answer above? We're here! Springdale Neighborhood Association Board
President: Rachel James-Dolan Vice-President: Bryan Bernard Secretary: Jeff Grossman Treasurer: Erin James-Dolan Springdale Committees and Representatives
Housing Committee Chair: Jeff Grossman Beautification Committee Chair: OPEN Welcome Committee Chair: Katie Doyle Social Committee Chair: RJD Dewey's Sunshine Garden: Chet Crump SASS Master: Kevin Sawrie NESCO Representative: Jeff Grossman Temple Oak Chairs: The James-Dolans Want to get involved? Email SpringdaleIndy@gmail.com     Copyright © 2026, Springdale Neighborhood Association, All rights reserved. Springdale Neighborhood Association is a 501(c)3 public charity |
