La Vida Local: Irregular Notes on West End Life
by Rosanne Graef, Past President – WENA
Today’s Topic: Get Creative
As this winter draws to a close, it’s time to think ahead a little about a few opportunities for how to enjoy ourselves and to get creative here in the West End.
I don’t know about you, but I’m wondering how this next gardening season will go following this strange weather we’ve had. Alternating warm spells and cold snaps are sure to have their effects on the plants around us, as well as the animals that share our neighborhood. Will this be a spring and summer of scanty blossoms and abundant ticks? Only time will tell.
Bayside Trail pollinators garden.
In the meanwhile, it’s time to get busy and decide what gardening projects, large or small, you’ll take on this year. In addition to your own window sill, yard or containers, there’s the possibility of becoming involved in some of the beautification, pollinator support and vegetable growing projects that WENA organizes.
Most of these take place in the Clark Street Park and Community Garden area, but we’re hoping to slowly expand these efforts throughout the neighborhood and welcome your energy and ideas. If you’d like to learn more, please contact lavidalocalwen@gmail.com.
Maybe playing in soil isn’t your cup of tea. Would you rather knit or crochet? Chase the Chill – Portland, Maine is a fun charity knitting project modeled on the original Chase the Chill started by Susan Huxley in Easton, Pennsylvania. Use your skills to create a scarf, hat, mittens or socks that will be used to decorate Congress Square Park on Veterans Day, November 11th, 2016!
The items will be displayed on trees, benches, light poles, etc. Anyone who needs or likes something is welcome to take it free of charge. You can create on your own, or if you’d like to work together, come to the Book Nook at the Reiche Community Center on Thursday mornings from 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Later in the spring, we’ll start knitting at Congress Square Park. Please bring your own supplies. If you have yarn, needles or hooks that you’d like to donate for this project, please let me know.
I launched Chase the Chill – Portland, Maine on January 22nd, 2016, and hope that over the next eight to nine months we can create some warm and toasty items for veterans and others who need them. Let’s have some fun, too!
Some of you probably caught the exhibit of West End Snapshots from the 2012 Meeting Place project that was on display this winter at the Reiche Community Room. Well, get ready, because we’re planning to do another West End Photography Show and want you to participate.
Get out there with your camera, find the West End’s everyday beauty and quirkiness and take your best shot! There’ll be more details to come, but get started now with these basic guidelines:
* Photos must be from 2016
* Photographer must be a resident of the West End
* Photo must be identifiably in the West End
* No photos of people or pets – places and things only
The show will take place in February, 2017.
Contact Rosanne about any of these creative happenings at lavidalocalwen@gmail.com.
