Pat Montgomery Anderson, a 64-year-old retiree, also isn’t a fan of the planned synagogue coming to her West End neighborhood. Parking and property values don’t seem to be as much of a concern for her as the changes in the character to the neighborhood.

“I think the building they’re planning on putting in is just not in keeping with the neighborhood,” she said. “I wish they would either keep it small or place it somewhere else where it doesn’t seem out of context.”

“This is supposed to be a residential neighborhood,” she continued later. “The school isn’t exactly a residence, but if we start letting in everything else that’s not really related to the neighborhood and isn’t a home, it’ll change the character.”

She’s worried the neighbors’ comments might be construed as anti-Semitic, but she wanted to reassure me that that wasn’t the case.

“I have some concern that this might be perceived as an anti-Jewish thing,” she said. “It’s not for me, and I haven’t heard anything like that from others.”

Safe Streets Campaign has released its annual list of Superstars, people and individuals who “exemplify the spirit of community.”

The Superstars will be feted at a breakfast next week at Bethlehem Baptist Church on Tacoma’s East Side.

Here’s part of a release from Safe Streets about this year’s winners. Congrats to everyone!

Gary & Barb Wellman, Norma Levingston (Outstanding Neighborhood Leaders)
Gary and Barb Wellman and Norma Levingston not only share leadership of the 117th & A Street Block Group, they also share family ties. After Levingston moved next door to her sister Barb and brother-in-law Gary in Parkland, she found herself troubled by her new surroundings. Prompted by her past experiences with a Safe Streets group at Salishan on the Eastside, Levingston suggested that the trio of retirees start a block group. Fed up with drive-by shootings, gang graffiti and meth labs, Barb and Gary didn’t hesitate. “We just really didn’t feel safe anymore,” said Barb.

The Wellmans and Levingston routinely go door-to-door, passing out flyers and talking about neighborhood crime. “I think they like feeling like they’re not alone,” said Levingston. They organize meetings featuring discussions with law enforcement, presentations on methamphetamine, and instruction in crime prevention. “The meetings give us a better opportunity to understand what we can do to improve our own safety,” said Gary. The regular interaction also enhances members’ connection to their neighborhood, the evidence being a recent National Night Out party that attracted over 150 neighbors. According to the three block leaders, another indication is simple, but telling—people have started leaving their window blinds open.

Reverend Freeman Rhoades (Outstanding Strategic Partner)
Reverend Freeman Rhoades has opened the doors of his church to Tacoma’s Eastside. A prominent leader in the faith community, he is guiding Bethlehem Baptist Church in reaching out to youth, people in need, and other vulnerable populations. Rhoades holds a significant place in Safe Streets’ history. In 1989, he and other religious leaders of Pierce County joined with the organization in issuing a proclamation against crime. Since then, his outreach activities have reflected the covenant he made to stand against drugs, gangs and violence.

Under Rhoades’ direction, the church’s extensive involvement in the community has made it a gathering place for the Eastside. The church operates a senior center for older church members and residents. Its wide-ranging youth program offers fun for children and teens in a safe environment, and various activities have included sports, teen late nights, and a summer reading program in partnership with Safe Streets’ Weed & Seed. Rhoades has also initiated services that support working families and low income people. There is a childcare center, a clothing bank, and a food bank. Earlier in 2008, Rhoades further expanded the church’s role in the community when he worked with Safe Streets to bring a town hall meeting on underage drinking to the Eastside.

Teens Empowered Against Meth (Outstanding Youth)
Teens Empowered Against Meth (TEAM) are a group of high school students with a purpose—to educate youth in the Gig Harbor-Key Peninsula community about methamphetamine. Their approach capitalizes on the reality that teens are more likely to listen to other teens. Members teach their peers about the inherent dangers of the drug. They also point out less obvious consequences, such as the negative impact on the community and—as several members have painfully testified—on the families of meth users.

Students spend several hours a week planning a presentation. Typically given to high school health classes, the presentations are a combination of PowerPoint, film and hands-on games like “Meth Jeopardy.” Recently, members have taken their material to a larger audience. Tailored content has been introduced to the middle school set, and TEAM drew one of the largest crowds at the 2008 Key Peninsula Livable Community Fair. The prevention community has taken notice: members were invited to give a workshop at the upcoming Washington State Prevention Summit that will help organizations develop youth-driven substance abuse education programs.

Pacific Avenue Business District (Outstanding Block Group or Coalition)
The movement to revitalize Pacific Avenue started at a National Night Out party. Iola Brown and Virginia Casto hit it off immediately, sharing a mutual desire to clean up the busy thoroughfare. Prostitutes, drug dealers, graffiti and litter had created an atmosphere of neglect. Knowing that such a transformation required an organized effort, they found a handful of business owners interested in improving a ten-block area of Pacific Avenue, from 46th to 56th Street. The fledgling coalition designated it the Pacific Avenue Business District, formed for the purpose of bringing new energy to the struggling area.

From the beginning, the group recognized the value of collaborating with its neighbors. “We decided our main focus was to bring businesses and community together,” said member Gerald Gibson. The coalition sponsored a contest for a district logo at a nearby school and organized a festival to show residents the diverse array of shops in their own backyard. One of the biggest undertakings is a beautification campaign. Donations and a South End Neighborhood Council grant written by members funded the installation of 60 large flower planters. The business-community connection is maintained with community cleanups, and a monthly newsletter hand delivered to 600 readers.

Safe Streets will also honor Representative Dennis Flannigan. Flannigan will receive the Director’s Award in recognition of his instrumental role as the initial founder of the organization in 1989.

I just talked to Jennie Freeman, a retiree who lives next door to the site of the proposed synagogue at 2146 N. Mildred St. in Tacoma.

She said the rabbi told her in person about the planned changes. The building is currently a five-car garage made of brown wood – the previous owner collected antique cars – but the plans call for something larger. Freeman said she appreciated being told in person but isn’t sure she wants the building in its current plans to be erected.

“I couldn’t believe my ears,” she said. “You don’t expect a synagogue that big going in between two houses in a residential area.”

She has several problems with it.

“It could make property value go down,” she said. “There’s a problem with parking. He said they’re gonna park at the schools, but he’s got 125 members. How are they going to park 125 members over there? They’ll be up and down the street.”

And she’s not a fan of the long-term plans, either.

“I was told that when they open the synagogue, they want to buy my house and the house on the corner, tear them down and put in a parking lot,” she said. “But I’m not selling. Not unless the property is condemned. I think that’s getting presumptive on their part.”

I talked with Ginny Eberhardt, the chair of the West End Neighborhood Council. The organization’s executive board is opposing a permit that would allow a synagogue to move into a lot at 2146 N. Mildred St.

“A couple of us felt the building was out of proportion with the rest of the neighborhood,” she said. “Several of the neighbors came to us and asked for us help in trying to stop the size of the building – not the group, just the size of the building that was going in.

“We feel it’s just a huge building for a regular, residential lot.”

It seems tensions are unusually high because they’re dealing with a house of worship. But it’s just a matter of the building’s size, she said: “The size is the issue. There is no other issue for us. It’s just the size of a building going in on a residential lot.”

The plans for parking are an issue of concern, too.

“The building is so large for the size of the lot that they’re not putting in any parking. There’s absolutely no parking on that lot at all,” she said. “All of the parking that will be done will be at Skyline Elementary. And there’s some concern that a group of people have asked for parking 365 days a year at the school. They’ve asked for all weekends and every weekday after 7:30 p.m. When you build something and then rely on another building for your parking, it just doesn’t seem like the proper way of planning.”

I hear there's a dispute brewing in Tacoma's West End between neighbors and a planned house of worship. I'll make some calls and see what's up.