Hear ye, hear ye!
Here is your
SHERWOOD FOREST CRIER
April 1, 2021

Pollen Daze in the Forest!

Sherwood Forest will hold our First Annual Pollen Daze Festival today!

Pollen levels for the Forest have been medium high to high for most of March and continue to color our world yellow! Our oaks and pines are providing the most pollen right now.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America lists Columbia as 23rd in the 2021 Allergy Capitals list! We think that’s something to celebrate! Rosewood can keep their mudbugs! This year we’ll be celebrating by wearing our masks and staying inside!

2021 Allergy Capitals list…

COVID-19 Vaccination Information

All South Carolinians aged 16 and older are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine! The CDC still recommends prevention measures including wearing a mask, social distancing and avoiding large gatherings even for fully vaccinated individuals.

CDC Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People…

Find a vaccination location at SC DHEC’s Vaccine Locator…

UofSC Belser Arboretum Open House
Sunday, April 18, 1-4pm

All are welcome to join us at Open House, always the 3rd Sunday of every month. Gates are open at Bloomwood Road and Wilmot Avenue.

Please note that trails are natural and hilly in sections. Restrooms are not available. Please leave pets at home. Visitors are asked not to park on the lawns of surrounding properties.

New Volunteer Sessions:
Get close the Arboretum and help us maintain the gardens and grounds. Meet at Bloomwood gate Wednesdays and Saturdays 10am-1pm, and Thursdays 5-7pm.

Check event specifics and sign up for the newsletter on Facebook.

Contact Gail Wojtowicz at 618 402-8736 or by email or see UofSC’s Department of Biological Sciences W. Gordon Belser Arboretum web page.

Gills Creek Watershed Association Webinar Video
What does the USC Belser Arboretum have to do with stormwater?

This was a very informative webinar hosted by Gills Creek Watershed Association and presented by our neighbor Valerie Marcil. It includes presentations by Trey Frankin, Director of the Arboretum, and neighbor Warren Hankinson, City of Columbia Watershed Coordinator.

Here is the recording of the webinar…

Neighborhood Safety

Our CRT (Community Response Team) Officer Mason L. Frier is the Sherwood Forest neighborhood contact at the Columbia Police Department. In normal times, he attends our quarterly general meetings. Here is his current update:

We’ve made an arrest in reference to burglaries in the area, and are continuing to actively investigate the other incidents hopefully that will lead to further arrests.

Report a personal or property crime immediately to the City of Columbia Police by calling 911. To report suspicious activity, call 911 or the non-emergency number 252-2911 or our CRT (Crime Response Team) Officer Mason L. Frier at (803) 391-6203 or mlfrier@columbiasc.net. Then alert your neighbors!

Sherwood Forest Real Estate Snapshot

This has been an interesting year in a multitude of aspects! Real Estate was no exception to the tumultuous times. I pulled up some information about our neighborhood and how we fared in the past 12 months. I eliminated all the homes that were withdrawn/expired as their data is incomplete. There were about 30 homes that went on the market and 20 have sold (or are in the process). Leaving 10 currently for sale, but half of those are part of the new Azalea Place Town Homes.

The average sold price was 304k with the highest being 4104 Blossom at $925k (still pending). Most homes sold for at or above the asking price. Ten of the homes sold in less than 10 days! As the pandemic has worn on it has created a shortage of homes for sale and resulted in higher prices and very quick sales – even in Sherwood Forest.

Next month I will share some demographic information for our neighborhood and answer any questions that might arise out of this snapshot. Enjoy our neighborhood!

Mark Hering

SFNA General Meeting
Tuesday, May 11, 6:30pm-8pm
This general meeting is tentative.

The SFNA general meetings are held quarterly on the second Tuesday of the second month of the quarter.

If you have questions, answers, requests, offers or comments about the neighborhood, you can join the discussion in our SFNA private group on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/sherwoodforestna.

Only your neighbors can see who’s in the group and what is posted.

SFNA Adopt-A-Highway Clean Up
Saturday, May 15
The clean up is tentative. Feel free to freelance in the meantime!

Here’s another reminder that dog poop bags should not be left on yard waste piles, but should only be placed bagged in the green rollcarts!

Please contact Dave Nelson at 803 447-4793 or appearance@sherwoodforestneighbors.org for information or any questions.

Crier emails
We are making an effort to send out these informational emails around the first of every month to keep neighbors up do date on neighborhood events, and other events and information of interest. It’s cheaper and better for the environment not to print and pass out fliers! But we could all probably use the exercise!

If you have information of interest to the neighborhood, please pass it along and we may include it in a future Crier.

Tell your friends and neighbors to subscribe. No membership required, but of course we would like everybody to join! New neighbor? Let us know and we’ll send out the welcome wagon.

To subscribe, email membership@sherwoodforestneighbors.org or subscribe online

Join the Sherwood Forest Neighborhood Association
Become a member or renew your membership now for 2021!
Dues are only $20 and are due in January. Pay your dues now online. Or pay at the next general meeting or mail a check to Henry Nechemias, 4 Robin Hood Ct., Columbia, SC 29205 and you will be paid up for 2021!

Hear ye, hear ye!
Here is your
SHERWOOD FOREST CRIER
March 1, 2021

Springtime in the Forest

Everyone is looking forward to Spring! The COVID-19 case and death numbers are going down, and vaccination is becoming more widely available. But now is not the time to relax prevention measures including wearing a mask, social distancing and avoiding large gatherings!

Find a vaccination location at SC DHEC’s Vaccine Locator…

Home Improvement Time?

The news reports that the pandemic’s causing more time at home has in turn caused folks to find things around the home that need improvement! Keep in mind that planning is key to a succesful project. If you are going to undertake the project yourself, make an honest evaluation of the skills needed and the skills you possess.

In addition to additions and renovations, many projects such as fences, roofing, sheds and even interior projects involving electrical, HVAC or plumbing work may require permits and building inspections! City of Columbia permitting info…

Depending on the project, you may need a Zoning Permit

If you are building a driveway, fence or retaining wall close to a SCDOT roadway (most of our streets are actually DOT roads), you may need an encroachment permit. The DOT right-of-way is often 25′ from the centerline of the road to each side. SCDOT permitting…

If you’re moving any dirt, get the utilities located by calling South Carolina 811 at 811.

Don’t want to do all this legwork? A contractor should take care of all permitting tasks. When hiring a contractor, make sure they are licensed to work in the City of Columbia, and bonded and insured. Check for references and ask your friends and neighbors for referrals. Here is one contractor checklist…

If work will be done in your home, make sure your workers or contractors agree to wear masks and observe pandemic safety recommendations.

We want to keep the forest in Sherwood Forest! But if you need to removed suspected diseased or dying trees, contract with a certified arborist who is licensed and bonded to avoid problems. If the tree in question is near the street, it may be in the City’s right-of-way in which case a permit from the City’s Forestry and Beautification is required.

Looking for recommendations or have a contractor to recommend? You can ask in the SFNA Facebook private group…

Dominion Energy Right-Of-Way Maintenance

Our Sherwood Forest neighbor Valerie Marcil has put together some suggestions to minimize damage from power line right-of-way maintenance. Approximately every four years, the power company – formerly SCE&G, now Dominion Energy – trims trees and other plants growing too close to the power lines in our area. Check out suggestions for suitable plants, maintenance strategies, and signage to warn workers.

Read more…

Sherwood Forest is on the schedule for 2021 according to the City of Columbia Forestry Department (). SFNA will try to alert the neighborhood before the next round of tree trimming!

UofSC Belser Arboretum Open House
Sunday, March 21, 1-4pm

All are welcome to join us at Open House, always the 3rd Sunday of every month. Gates are open at Bloomwood Rd and Wilmot Dr.

Please note that trails are natural and hilly in sections. Restrooms are not available. Please leave pets at home.

Gates are open on most Wednesdays 9:30am-1pm.

Check event specifics and sign up for the newsletter on Facebook.

Contact Gail Wojtowicz at 618 402-8736 or by email or see UofSC’s Department of Biological Sciences W. Gordon Belser Arboretum web page.

Gills Creek Watershed Association Webinar

The USC Belsert Arboretum will be featured in a free webinar on Wednesday March 10, 12-1pm titled What does the USC Belser Arboretum have to do with storm water?!?

Eventbrite link…

Neighborhood Safety

Report a personal or property crime immediately to the City of Columbia Police by calling 911. To report suspicious activity, call 911 or the non-emergency number 252-2911 or our CRT (Crime Response Team) Officer Mason L. Frier at (803) 391-6203 or mlfrier@columbiasc.net. Then alert your neighbors!

If you wish to see police reports in our neighborhood consider subscribing to the the LexisNexis Community Crime Map and associated email notifications. Click the Sign Up for Crime Alerts button at the top of the webpage to get email notifications from local law enforcement.

Crier emails
We are making an effort to send out these informational emails around the first of every month to keep neighbors up do date on neighborhood events, and other events and information of interest. It’s cheaper and better for the environment not to print and pass out fliers! But we could all probably use the exercise!

If you have information of interest to the neighborhood, please pass it along and we may include it in a future Crier.

Tell your friends and neighbors to subscribe. No membership required, but of course we would like everybody to join! New neighbor? Let us know and we’ll send out the welcome wagon.

To subscribe, email membership@sherwoodforestneighbors.org or subscribe online

Join the Sherwood Forest Neighborhood Association
Become a member or renew your membership now for 2021!
Dues are only $20 and are due in January. Pay your dues now online. Or pay at the next general meeting or mail a check to Henry Nechemias, 4 Robin Hood Ct., Columbia, SC 29205 and you will be paid up for 2021!

Hear ye, hear ye!
Here is your
SHERWOOD FOREST CRIER
February 1, 2021

Neighborhood Message

We hope all of our neighbors are continuing to stay safe and enjoy life such as it is! Please let us know of any issues in the neighborhood that might benefit from the Association’s attention, or if anyone needs a helping hand.

If there have been new neighbors who have moved in near you please consider letting us know so we can let them know about SFNA and how it benefits them. During this time of pandemic it is important that we make new neighbors especially welcome to our neighborhood. You may also consider asking them for their email address so you can forward the Crier to them and keep them advised of neighborhood events.

You can stay in touch with the SFNA and your neighbors on our website, the Facebook page, the Facebook private group, or on Nextdoor!

Please join or renew for 2021 today! You can pay your dues online at sherwoodforestneighbors.org.

DHEC COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in South Carolina have been rising. Take steps to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Get Tested
Getting tested is important. Learn who should get tested. COVID-19 mobile testing sites are operating in counties across the state, and there are more than 220 permanent COVID-19 testing facilities across the state.

Practice Social Distancing
When around others, keep 6 feet between you when possible. Avoid crowds and large gatherings. If you’re sick, stay at home.

Wear a Face Mask
Wearing a face mask decreases the risk of spreading COVID-19. Wear a cloth face covering that covers your mouth and nose when around others and in public settings like a grocery store or parking lot. Masks are required in the City of Columbia and Richland County.

Get Vaccinated
Sign up to get an immunization as soon as your group is scheduled!

DHEC COVID-19 Vaccine Information…

City of Columbia CRT Officer Report

The South Region and the East Region have been combined into the Southeast Region commanded by Captain Paul ‘PJ’ Blendowski. Our CRT (Community Response Team) Officer Mason L. Frier is the Sherwood Forest neighborhood contact at the Columbia Police Department. In normal times, he attends our quarterly general meetings. Here is his current update:

We have had some burglaries of college students over the last week, but a subject was developed based on great witness observations, and warrants are now out in the subject.

To prevent burglaries please look out for neighbors, pick up mail, and calling CPD if you see anyone that doesn’t live at the location looking around, or being suspicious in the area. Tips like that make developing subjects exponentially easier!

Autobreakings continue to occur, most of which are unforced with individuals checking handles, and if it’s locked moving on. So lock your vehicles!

There have been a number of thefts of catalytic converters recently, and individuals have been arrested.

Report a personal or property crime immediately to the City of Columbia Police by calling 911. To report suspicious activity, call 911 or the non-emergency number 252-2911 or our CRT (Crime Response Team) Officer Mason L. Frier at (803) 391-6203 or mlfrier@columbiasc.net. Then alert your neighbors!

If you wish to see police reports in our neighborhood consider subscribing to the the LexisNexis Community Crime Map and associated email notifications. This link is to a small area for notifications that covers only our neighborhood area, but you can change the coverage area as desired, and the types of incidents to report. Click the Sign Up for Crime Alerts button at the top of the webpage to get email notifications from local law enforcement.

UofSC Belser Arboretum Open House
Sunday, February 21, 1-4pm

The Open House is every third Sunday of the month. This event is tentative.

Gates are open on most Wednesdays 9:30am-1pm.

Check event specifics and sign up for the newsletter on Facebook.

Contact Gail Wojtowicz at 618 402-8736 or by email or see UofSC’s Department of Biological Sciences W. Gordon Belser Arboretum web page.

SFNA General Meeting
Tuesday, February 9, 6:30pm-8pm
This general meeting is canceled.

The SFNA general meetings are held quarterly on the second Tuesday of the second month of the quarter.

If you have questions, answers, requests, offers or comments about the neighborhood, you can join the discussion in our SFNA private group on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/sherwoodforestna.

Only your neighbors can see who’s in the group and what is posted.

SFNA Adopt-A-Highway Clean Up
Saturday, February 20
The clean up is canceled.

Please contact Dave Nelson at 803 447-4793 or appearance@sherwoodforestneighbors.org for information or any questions.

Crier emails
We are making an effort to send out these informational emails around the first of every month to keep neighbors up do date on neighborhood events, and other events and information of interest. It’s cheaper and better for the environment not to print and pass out fliers! But we could all probably use the exercise!

If you have information of interest to the neighborhood, please pass it along and we may include it in a future Crier.

Tell your friends and neighbors to subscribe. No membership required, but of course we would like everybody to join! New neighbor? Let us know and we’ll send out the welcome wagon.

To subscribe, email membership@sherwoodforestneighbors.org or subscribe online

Join the Sherwood Forest Neighborhood Association
Become a member or renew your membership now for 2021!
Dues are only $20 and are due in February. Pay your dues now online. Or pay at the next general meeting or mail a check to Henry Nechemias, 4 Robin Hood Ct., Columbia, SC 29205 and you will be paid up for 2021!

Hear ye, hear ye!
Here is your
SHERWOOD FOREST CRIER
January 1, 2021

Here’s to a Better Year in 2021!

Sherwood Forest neighborhood is hoping all of our neighbors are faring as well as possible and continue to stay safe!

SFNA works to provide opportunities to create neighborhood unity, provide information of interest to our neighbors, and promote and enhance Sherwood Forest as a desirable location to live, work, and play!

The SFNA can speak with one voice to address issues affecting our neighborhood regarding City services, utility work, code violations, and other problems or opportunities.

Invite your neighbors to subscribe to the Crier, participate in our online discussion on Facebook, and join our neighborhood events when it’s safe to do so.

Of course we would appreciate your support by joining SFNA with yearly dues of $20. These funds are used to provide refreshments at our events, support the Arboretum, install and maintain street sign toppers (which unfortunately is an ongoing task), for our online presence, and other miscellaneous expenses.

Please join or renew for 2021 today! You can pay your dues online at sherwoodforestneighbors.org.

Sherwood Forest Quick Reference

Find contact information for emergency services, city services, utility companies, driver’s license, schools, voting, elected representatives and more!

Sherwood Forest Quick Reference

Annual Twelfth Night Adult Post Holiday Party

A favorite neighborhood event has been canceled for this holiday season! Stay safe at home with your families and maybe we can look forward to next year.

UofSC Belser Arboretum Open House
Sunday, January 17, 1-4pm

The Open House is every third Sunday of the month..

Gates are open on most Wednesdays 9:30am-1pm.

Check event specifics and sign up for the newsletter on Facebook.

Contact Gail Wojtowicz at 618 402-8736 or by email or see UofSC’s Department of Biological Sciences W. Gordon Belser Arboretum web page.

SFNA General Meeting
Tuesday, February 9, 6:30pm-8pm
This general meeting is tentative.

The SFNA general meetings are held quarterly on the second Tuesday of the second month of the quarter.

If you have questions, answers, requests, offers or comments about the neighborhood, you can join the discussion in our SFNA private group on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/sherwoodforestna.

Only your neighbors can see who’s in the group and what is posted.

SFNA Adopt-A-Highway Clean Up
Saturday, February 20
The clean up is tentative. Feel free to freelance in the meantime!

Please contact Dave Nelson at 803 447-4793 or appearance@sherwoodforestneighbors.org for information or any questions.

Crier emails
We are making an effort to send out these informational emails around the first of every month to keep neighbors up do date on neighborhood events, and other events and information of interest. It’s cheaper and better for the environment not to print and pass out fliers! But we could all probably use the exercise!

If you have information of interest to the neighborhood, please pass it along and we may include it in a future Crier.

Tell your friends and neighbors to subscribe. No membership required, but of course we would like everybody to join! New neighbor? Let us know and we’ll send out the welcome wagon.

To subscribe, email membership@sherwoodforestneighbors.org or subscribe online