January Meeting

    
Westwood Neighborhood Association Meeting Agenda Date:: Wednesday, March 18, 2026 7 :00 pm

Place: Westwood United Methodist Church, 538 Nichols Road, Lower Level, Theater. Enter North East Doors. Theater is downstairs. ADA entrance is available by calling 269-303-3485 one hour before arrival.

1. Record names of attendees (sign-up sheets)
2. Additions or Deletions to Agenda.

Neighborhood Safety Report:

• City of Kalamazoo, Community policing officer: Hunter Bagley 
• Kalamazoo Township, Community Policing Officer: Mary Catherine Morris 

Safe Streets for All: (JH) 

• Our board has decided to take this on as a deliverable for our community. However, we can't do this without you. If you are interested in being on an action committee to make this happen, please contact  officewestwoodkzoo@gmail.com  We need to have a minimum of three people on this committee to make this feasible
• https://www.kalamazoocity.org/Community/Projects/2023/Planning/Traffic-Calming-Safe-Streets-for-All

Imagine Kalamazoo 2035 (IK35): (JH)
Frays Park: (MN) 

• Friday, May 22, at 4:30 pm, tee planting, Frays Park. Partnership with Mike Weis, of Dropseed Native Gardens and Ecological Restoration. Many hands can make this project a fun community event that has long range benifits to all who visit Frays Park.

Compost/Scrap: (MN) 

• Neighborhood City Compost Competition May 3-9th. The Compost Cup will be a week-long competition for neighborhoods with a food scrap recycling bin to compete with each other, compost, and be named the compost champions of the city. Winners will receive a fabulous (handmade) trophy and bragging rights. Neighborhoods with compost sites (Oakwood, Vine, Edison, Parkview Hills, Westwood, Milwood) to raise awareness and encourage composting awareness. 
• The Westwood Neighborhood compost site is yet to be determined. Is there an interest in us having one, where should it be located, any concerns? Please reply to Ron Huster via e-mail or reach out to any board member. We will need to make a decision on or before April first as to whether we will be participating in the compost competition or not. 
• If you are interested in helping with any of Westwood’s parks, city or township, contact officewestwoodkzoo@gmail.com and we will put you in contact with the right person(s). 

Westwood National Night Out: Save the date: (JH) 

• Tuesday, August 4, Frays Park 6-9 pm. If you are interested in helping with this fun event, please contact beth.vandenhombergh@gmail.com or janet.hay@gmail.com. This event has been a great event with 4-500 Westwood residents come together for a fun Westwood evening.

Westwood Neighborhood Garage Sale:  (RH) 

• Please mark your calendars for May 15-16 for our neighborhood garage sale. This event has been a huge success for many years! We will even have an online map, thanks to Katherine Mills. If you are interested in helping with this project, please contact officewestwoodkzoo@gmail.com with questions or for more information.  
• This year we are considering asking those hosting a garage sale to please consider making a $5 donation to the Westwood Neighborhood Association, and would go a long way towards paying for the WNA website and/or supplies for our National Night Out such as a ADA accessible porta-poty. What are your thoughts on asking for a donation?  

Kalamazoo Township updates:  (RH)         We've been following the story about the Township Treasurer as well as other issues in the township.  Public Comments: Chance to bring up issues not discussed - please limit to three minutes unless prior board approval.

Next meeting: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 7:00 pm. Westwood United Methodist Church, 538 Nichols Road.

Yours in service, 

President:     Beth van den Hombergh Vice President  Ron Huster           Secretary    Marti Nuyen          Treasurer    Penny Thompson                 Member at Large  Janet Hay Around Town Happenings Resources: 

• City of Kalamazoo Updates/Newsletter
  
• Kalamazoo Township Information
• NowKalamazoo: your Kalamazoo Area initiatives/updates daily email news source

WESTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

MEETING AGENDA DATE: February 11, 7 :00 pm

Place: Westwood United Methodist Church, 538 Nichols Road, Lower Level, Theater. Enter North East Doors. Theater is downstairs. ADA entrance is available by calling 269-303-3485 one hour before arrival.

I. Record names of attendees (sign-up sheets)

II. Brief message from outgoing President

III. Brief message from incoming President

IV. Additions or Deletions to Agenda.

V. Agenda items: Please note: We know that attending meetings can be a strain, so we’ve included links for different action items if you want more information.

• Safe      Streets for All: Are you interested in      making Westwood Neighborhood a safer place to be? Are you      concerned about our footprint, literally, in the City's Master Plan for      Safe Streets? The township is covered by the Road Commission of Kalamazoo      County, and they have a program that gets little publicity. Our board has      decided to take this on as a deliverable for our community. However, we      can't do this without you. If you are interested in being on an action      committee to make this happen, please contact  officewestwoodkzoo@gmail.com  We need to have a minimum of three      people on this committee to make this feasible
• https://www.kalamazoocity.org/Community/Projects/2023/Planning/Traffic-Calming-Safe-Streets-for-All
• Asylum      Lake Preservation Association: If you are interested in      being on an action committee, representing the Westwood Neighborhood      Association regarding this matter, please contact Beth van den Hombergh,      at beth.vandenhombergh@gmail.com ALPA Monday, 1/26, 7 pm. City Hall, petition to rezone      https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BiBY2hrMx/  
• Kalamazoo      County Youth Sports Complex update: Address:      1617 N. Drake Rd. (Parcel of Drake Road and 131 by the hotels).  On January 8, the developer, via Discover      Kalamazoo non profit, petitioned the City of Kalamazoo Zoning Board      of Appeals requesting five variances. Two of the variances involved a      repeal of the Natural Features Protection Ordinance. One was to remove      protected slopes (passed), and the second was to eliminate over 85% of the      protected woodlands (failed by one vote)  https://kalamazoomi.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1459/overview       (Beth) 
• City      of Kalamazoo Zoning Board of Appeals: Are      you interested in having a front row seat and voice regarding zoning      variance requests, approval, and the appeals process? This is a fantastic      board to work with, and the service that you provide for your community is      invaluable. If you are interested in learning more about the ZBA and/or      filling an upcoming vacancy, please contact Beth van den Hombergh,      at beth.vandenhombergh@gmail.com as      soon as possible.
• Imagine      Kalamazoo 2035 (IK35):  Design Phase meeting for      Arcadia/Westwood neighborhoods is Wednesday, February 11, from 7-8:30 pm,      at Arcadia Elementary cafeteria, 932 Boswell, Lane, Kalamazoo, MI       49006  https://www.kalamazoocity.org/News-articles/Design-It-Will-Turn-Community-Vision-into-Action-Across-Kalamazoo-Neighborhoods 
• Frays      Park:  Adopt-a-Park (WNA), snow removal, butterfly      garden, tree planting & celebration of Arbor Day. If you are      interested in helping with any of Westwood’s parks, city or township,      contact officewestwoodkzoo@gmail.com     and we will put you in contact with the right person(s). 
• Westwood      National Night Out: Save the date: Tuesday,      August 4, Frays Park 6-9 pm. If you are interested in helping with this      fun event, please contact beth.vandenhombergh@gmail.com or janet.l.hay@gmail.com.
• Westwood      Neighborhood Garage Sale: Mark your calendars for May      15-16. it will be here before you know it! If you are interested in      helping with this project, contact officewestwoodkzoo@gmail.com     and we will give you more information.
• Kalamazoo      Township updates: Happenings in the township.  If      you are interested in helping monitor what’s happening in the Charter      Township of Kalamazoo, contact officewestwoodkzoo@gmail.com.      We could also use some help ensuring that we are aware of not only what is      currently happening in Westwood, but also what is proposed and in      development. We would like to have an action committee composed of eagle      eyes and ears to review agendas, decisions, and possibly attend or simply      share concerning news of meetings held by the City of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo      Township and possible adjoining areas. If you are interested in helping      provide coverage, please contact beth.vandenhombergh@gmail.com.      I have found this city daily newsletter, delivered via email by 6:30 am,      to be incredibly helpful and succinct. https://nowkalamazoo.org/ 

IV. Public Comments: Chance to bring up issues not discussed - please limit to three minutes unless prior board approval.

Next meeting: March 18, 2026 at 7:00 pm. At this time, it is planned that we will have an in-person meeting at the Westwood United Methodist Church, 538 Nichols Road. Details later.

Board Members: Beth, Marti, Janet, Penny & Ron.

WESTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

MEETING AGENDA

 DATE: November 19, 2025 7 :00 pm

Place: Westwood United Methodist Church, 538 Nichols Road, Lower Level, Theater. Enter North East Doors. Theater is downstairs. ADA entrance is available by calling 269-303-3485 one hour before arrival.

I. Record names of attendees (sign-up sheets)

II. Last minute changes to the agenda.

IIL. Agenda: 

A. Committee Reports: Safety: (Police & Committee Update), Fundraising

B. Parks & Recreation: (Frays Park & other green spaces – Possible Angie Memorials)

C. Neighborhood Projects: (Friendship Village & Others).

D. Kalamazoo Township Planning Commission (Notes & Updates).

E. Things upcoming for Westwood (streets & water)

IV. Public Comments: Chance to bring up issues not discussed - please limit to three minutes unless prior board approval.

Next meeting: WNA Annual Meeting January 21, 2026 at 7:00 pm. This meeting business information is shared and any board members who’s terms are expiring, will be up for re-election. At this time, it is planned that we will have an in-person meeting at the Westwood United Methodist Church, 538 Nichols Road. Details later.