Our friend Ted has moved away, and Nora bids him an affectionate farewell.

Ted Fulmore has left the building -- actually the city, and no, he isn't dead, but he's moved to Louisville.

And my friends, this is too damned bad. It's too bad for me, for you and for New Albany, although for Ted, it's a chance to begin anew.

Verily, wretched bureaucratic time-servers like John Rosenbarger remain, and true revolutionaries like Ted depart.

It just isn't fair.

My personal revenge comes through the use of Ted's photo at Linked-In, so as to introduce Nora Egan's affectionate goodbye, with addendum.

Ted, I know you're close by. When (if) I begin my "Last of the Summer Wine" phase, I'll come over your way. Just find some good beer and a place to smoke cigars, and I'll tell you what you're missing.

Take it away, Nora.

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You all have heard me talk about "Neighbor Ted" for a decade. Today, a big, white moving van pulled up out front and away went the best darn neighbor in the universe -- and I know my other neighbors will agree. 

Ted was the first person I met when I moved to Bright Leaf Cottage in the fall of 2004. He introduced me to the denizens of New Albany, both preservationist and political, as well as publican. He mowed my grass, gave me a television and a ficus tree, suggested my house... for the historic home tour, gave me cookies at Christmas, and introduced me to P&B -- that's our slang for pizza and beer -- always at Rich O's. 

Friend Becky Becky Willingham Backert referred to him as my anchor and I guess she's right. A firm hater of squirrels (he's a fan of All Squirrels Must Die), I named all "my" squirrels using Ted's initials, TF, or "TFFY." I don't think he thinks it's much of an honor, but really, it is. When I give someone or something a nickname, it means they are special. 

Several years ago, there was a mockingbird that made its home in Ted's weeping cherry tree; I named him Fulmore. Again, this did not impress Ted. There is good news on this sad-for-us day, just like we've done for the last half-dozen years, he promised to come back for Halloween to sit on my front porch with neighbors, eat bean soup and corn bread, drink beer and wine, smoke his cigar and eat chocolate. 

I need him there to caution me when I mutter things like, "Aren't you a little old to be trick or treating?" to the little monsters, and Ted always says, under his breath, "Nora, just give them the candy." We'll all miss you something awful, Ted Fulmore. You were the best neighbor EVER.

(addendum)

Ted also raked my leaves, shoveled my walks every winter, called the police when necessary, chased dogs, found dogs, gave me flower pots, and shared his exercise bike -- which has been patiently awaiting use behind my Big Blue Chair. (In winter, with a box propped on the seat, it's used by "Leaf" as her snuggy spot which we refer to as the "high hide.")

He's not just my neighbor, he's my friend and at 18 years my junior, he was also my watchful "son." It's weird knowing he's not just across the driveway. See you in October, NT. Bring lots of candy (and stick for me to poke those too-old tricksters).

Revisiting the rise and fall of New Albany's 19th-century Market Street Brewery.

Back in 2006, Ted Fulmore published a stellar overview of the history and surviving buildings of the Market Street Brewery (also known as Buchheit) at 10th and E. Market, situated less than two blocks from where I live.

When we first moved into our house on Spring Street, it was assumed that the two buildings pictured above were not original to the brewery, but Ted’s diligent research proved otherwise. Since I've referred to this so often, and especially as the green-fronted building recently has been rehabbed into living space, it seems like a good time to revisit Ted's research.

The links are here:

The Rise and Fall of Market Street Brewery (Part 1).

Part 2 - The Rise and Fall of Market Street Brewery.

Part 3 - The Rise and Fall of Market Street Brewery.

Ted Fulmore: "There's nothing wrong with change."

This note from Ted Fulmore explains itself (I snipped a bit for publication), and it is being published here so I can publicly thank Ted for all his hard work these past few years. 


From the moment the Confidentials bought our house in 2003, Ted always has been nearby in a perpetually helpful capacity, and as anyone who has devoted time nurturing a sense of place can attest, his words below have considerable resonance: "It's just time for me to move on and dedicate time to other activities in my life."


Personally, in coming years I look forward to many porch-side Progressive Pints and cigars with Ted in his new non-aligned capacity. Ten years is a lot. We need to usher in that elusive "next" generation while the smoking and drinking are still good. Volunteers?

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Hello Everyone

I'm sending this note to those that live in the neighborhood and others who are active in the area. I've been engaged in community activities basically since the day I moved here almost 10 years ago. My primary role has been to provide leadership as neighborhood president. I'm going to be stepping down from this role over the next month. The Midtown meeting on Tuesday, April 17 will be the last one I preside over.

While I still have a passion for the place I live, I've realized it's just time for me to move on and dedicate time to other activities in my life.

What this means?

-If Midtown meetings are to continue, I will need to pass the Ritter House key on to someone else.

-I will need to pass on the email distribution list to someone willing to continue to manage communication.

-The website www.midtownna.org will stay in place but may evolve.

I do think it's ok and perfectly normal for a reassessment period to take place when there may not be meetings held. It's entirely possible that something different grows here, new ideas are fostered, new people get involved. There's nothing wrong with change.

Theories abound on community development. While the formality of a "neighborhood group" perhaps contributes to a sense of stability in an area, it certainly is not the only way build community and social connections. The neighborhood festival** is a good example. Maybe you have an idea for a project related to the arts? Music/Movies in the park? There's no reason residents and community stakeholders can't team up for something fun, do it, then move on with life.

Feel free to come to the meeting on 4/17, 6.30pm, at the Ritter house if you'd like to discuss the future face to face.

Our (recent) History New Albany: Quality of Life Has Improved.

Our History New Albany scribe Ted Fulmore used weekend events as impetus for a brief then and now comparison, looking at the past few years through clearly focused lenses:

Local activists focus on the current and in many cases the ugly issues. Seldom do we take the time to look back and appreciate just how much progress has been made. We don’t do a good job of defining the outcomes desired either. I will endeavor to help change that.

As I related to a large group of people recently, the quality of life here has improved here. While I have no data to support this, I do believe the image for the area is changing in a positive way. And this is being done without any coordinated strategy whatsoever. Just imagine if we tried?

Perspective from 2005, Downtown New Albany

Well stated, Ted. While there's certainly much work left to be done, there's scant doubt its worth (and ours) will be measured in the achievement of positive outcomes rather than the persistence of woebegone wails.

Perhaps readers can lend some perspective of their own. Why is it so difficult for some to see the improvements that have already taken place? Why is it so daunting to state what we want?

Newport in New Albany, Tuesday, March 10.

Newport, Kentucky's position as a small urban center directly across the river from Cincinnati is strikingly similar to New Albany's. Thanks to Ted Fulmore, Newport's Main Street Coordinator will be in town tomorrow to help tell the story of that city's successful revitalization efforts.

Fulmore rebuts Coffey; Coffey head butts quivering mound of barbecued bologna.

Ted Fulmore is both patient and tactful, as in this letter to the editor of the Tribune (Feb. 15, 2009):

S. Ellen Jones neighborhood making strides

I am president of the S. Ellen Jones Neighborhood Association. On Wednesday, I was pleased to read the article, “New Albany making play for housing rehab money,” by Daniel Suddeath and learning the New Albany Redevelopment Commission had approved funding for grant-writing proposals. I have been discussing this potential grant opportunity with city officials since early December.

The bewildering part of the article was a statement made by Dan Coffey, a member of the city council and redevelopment commission. He stated “Redevelopment has spent a lot of money in the S. Ellen Jones neighborhood and it’s progressively gotten worse.”

This is a curiously vague statement. I’m not sure how much money “a lot” is, nor am I sure what has gotten “progressively worse.” I do know the redevelopment commission spends money in many neighborhoods and that many of those neighborhoods, including SEJ, face complex challenges ...

Follow the link for the complete text.

Of course, Ted steers the right course: Answer allegations with hard facts, and permit the hard facts to rebut the councilman's self-aggrandizing foolishness.

If Coffey had any genuine interest in improving the city, he would not resort to granstanding insinuations that serve little purpose beyond reinforcing "us in the west end" against "them people on the east side" stereotypes. He also would not be sitting as a member of the redevelopment commission, but that's an entirely different lamentation. The residents of Coffeystan will come to understand in time that their primary obstacle to a better quality of life is their own Wizard.

I received the following e-mail, also from Ted, this morning. It is a valuable glimpse at what his neighborhood association is seeking to do, and actually is achieving, despite the foot-dragging recalcitrance of Coffey and his east side acolyte, Steve "Transfer Station Panacea" Price, who in the past served the S. Ellen Jones association (more specifically, his own rental property self-interest) by day, while simultaneously demeaning most of the neighborhood's goals twice monthly in the council chamber.

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S. Ellen Jones Neighborhood Association Meeting Notice
Tuesday - February 17th - 6:30 p.m.
S. Ellen Jones Elementary School, 600 East 11th Street, in the cafeteria

Agenda topics to include (but not limited to):

1. Graffiti action planning - largely a problem we can address, by swift removal. Request removal assistance or report an instance by completing the web form at http://www.sellenjones.org/.

2. Neighborhood Stabilization Program - grant application status and next steps.

3. Review of current projects: Select this link to view known 2009 Projects

If you have additional agenda topics to include, please forward to me.

GUEST SPEAKER(s): Not Confirmed - City Officials to discuss Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

SEJ on its way: Central city park to host festival Saturday, August 16.

The S. Ellen Jones Park is playing host to its first ever neighborhood festival this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with free food, music, fun activities for the kiddos, and health screenings for those of us not quite up to the 3-on-3 basketball tournament. Booths will be scattered throughout the park at 600 E. 11th Street and on 13th Street between Elm and Oak Streets.



A map for your convenience:



With numerous worthwhile renovation activities happening in the downtown business district, it's easy to overlook non-commercial interests within the larger revitalization scheme. Our local entrepreneurs certainly deserve their share of credit but it's the business of people that ultimately decides a city's lot.

And when it comes to people, I'm challenged to present a better example of a good friend, neighbor, and community builder than Ted Fulmore, the principal organizer of the SEJ festival. Whether it's historic preservation, modernist architecture, low-income housing, or simply getting together for a good time, Ted's just flat out been as solid a citizen as one could hope for.

Though he's far too gracious to not share the credit with those who've helped transform his wish to reality, this festival was his idea and he's done the work necessary to make it a good day for everyone in his and surrounding neighborhoods.

I'd like to personally thank the many volunteers and organizations who've helped. I'd also like to suggest that everybody else thank Ted, for Saturday and every day that he puts his considerable skills to work for us.