In 2024, Bissett Neighborhood Association launched two highly successful new events.
In May and in partnership with Eden Village 2, we held our first-ever Bissett Bash! Live entertainment, games, a bounce house, prizes and free food for about 100 attendees. We’re planning it again this year, so stay tuned for an announcement early in the year.
Starting in April and through August, we launched our Neat Neighborhoods program. This effort included two neighborhood-wide cleanups, the launch of our Trash Troopers litter patrol, our Clean Up and Clear Out awareness and education initiative that focuses on how to manage all our stuff so we can avoid the pitfalls of hoarding and the unhealthy and unsafe conditions caused by clutter and vegetation overgrowth. Our efforts were rewarded with Bissett garnering a second place prize in the city-wide Neat Neighborhoods competition, which includes a $3,000 prize courtesy of the Hatch Foundation. That money will be invested in continuing to improve our neighborhood. If you want to share your thoughts on worthwhile uses, come to our January or February general membership meetings.
BNA also held its annual neighborhood-wide yard sale in July. We held seven general membership meetings with speakers, great Q&A sessions with our PAR officer, and potluck dinners. he year was capped off by our annual Christmas dinner.
BNA continued its participation in the Neighborhood Advisory Council. Joining with the other 20-plus Springfield neighborhood associations helps us have a strong voice in helping guide and participate in the betterment of Springfield.
On a more somber note, we witnessed the passing of long-time Bissett resident and BNA member Georgia Burton. We also learned of the passing of former BNA president Carl Porras, who died from COVID in New Mexico where he and his family have lived for several years. May they rest in peace.
We want to thank Walmart Neighborhood Market on Mt. Vernon Street and Little Caesar’s Pizza for generous food donations for some of our events, and special thanks to David Kramer and Complete Electronics Recycling for hosting our September cleanup. We also want to thank Queen City Graphix for special pricing on our BNA T-shirts and donation of polos.
2025 board
Many thanks to each of our officers and board members from past years. Our officers for 2025 are:
President: Pete Radecki
Vice President: Vickie Grinde
Treasurer: Sheila Radecki
Board Members: Cherie Cronie, Pat Norberg and Rob Sorbo
It’s looking like 2025 will be a banner year for BNA. With the transformational gift from the Hatch Foundation Neat Neighborhoods Program, another new round of grants via the Neighborhood Works program, and our strategic initiative to improve Hillcrest Avenue, we have the opportunity to do something special for and in our neighborhood. If you read this and live or work in Bissett, consider joining our group to make a difference in our neighborhood.