Sustainable Crown Hill

Sat. July 19:  potluck from 6-7pm;  Movie starts at 7:15pm.

Movie:  The End of Suburbia (see synopsis below)

Location:  Carol B’s house, 10060 Mary Ave NW, 789-8693

For those attending the potluck,  people are encouraged to bring or prepare foods that are “local” or “as local as possible.”   Let’s not be fascists about it, but be thoughtful about what you make or bring, and use it as a learning experience as we all strive to live our lives in a more sustainable manner.  Come prepared to talk about what you learned from the process.

Movie Synopsis: Since World War II, North Americans have invested much of their newfound wealth in suburbia. It has promised a sense of space, affordability, family life and upward mobility. As the population of suburban sprawl has exploded in the past 50 years, so too has the suburban way of life become embedded in the American consciousness.  Suburbia, and all it promises, has become the American Dream.

But as we enter the 21st century, serious questions are beginning to emerge about the sustainability of this way of life. With brutal honesty and a touch of irony, The End of Suburbia explores the American Way of Life and its prospects as the planet approaches a critical era, as global demand for fossil fuels begins to outstrip supply. World Oil Peak and the inevitable decline of fossil fuels are upon us now, some scientists and policy makers argue in this documentary.

The consequences of inaction in the face of this global crisis are enormous. What does Oil Peak mean for North America? As energy prices skyrocket in the coming years, how will the populations of suburbia react to the collapse of their dream? Are today’s suburbs destined to become the slums of tomorrow? And what can be done NOW, individually and collectively, to avoid The End of Suburbia?

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JOIN US:  Friday, July 11 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, Abundant Life Church (9204 11th Ave NW)

We had a fun evening June 13 cutting fabric, snacking, gabbing, and sewing – a veritable hen fest.  We’d love to have some men join us this next time around.  We won’t be able to work as late since the second Walkable Crown Hill design charettewill be the following day.

On Friday, July 11 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Abundant Life Church (9204 11th Ave NW), we’ll make some more bags.  We cut out material for two sizes thanks to a pattern that Nikki found.  Feel free to invite others who might enjoy.

We didn’t get around to stenciling but if anyone knows how to do this or has materials, please bring and teach the rest of us.

Hope to see some friendly faces.

Danielle

PS. Things to bring:
snack to share
sewing machine
scissors
thread
rotary cutter and mat (if you have one)
pins

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Neighbors gathered again on 100th St NW at 13th on Wed. July 2 and dabbled in our sketchbooks.   But you don’t need a sketchbook.  I used newsprint and an ordinary #2 pencil.  You don’t need expensive art materials to scribble and bibble.

We will meet again next Wed. July 9 from 10-11am.  Look for us out on 100th!

We will try to gather every Wed. at this same time of 10-11am.

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A small group of adults and children met on 100th Street at 14th on Wednesday with our easels and art supplies and “drew what we loved.”   That was the suggestion by Obadinah, a Crown Hill artist who lives on Mary Ave NW. (If you want to see her amazing work, check out her website at www.obadinah.com).   It was a remarkable hour – first, in my ability to turn off my inner critic for the first time ever while “doing art,” and second, for the great fun it was to try my hand at drawing under the gentle eye of Obadinah, who says that there is no such thing as making mistakes in art.    (Very freeing indeed, given the trauma I experienced in art classes throughout my formative years.)     Not only that, we were all surprised at the number of people walking up and down 100th.  Many stopped to talk and many drivers slowed down to discern what the heck we were doing.

It was so much fun, we decided to meet every Wednesday from 10-11am. Join us!   Call me (Carol) at 789-8693 to confirm that we will be meeting, and to find out where on 100th we will be meeting.   Please consider wearing something very “visual”…..bright colors or a hat….anything to catch the eye of drivers and pedestrians.

Posted by Carol Barber

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On Sunday, June 15th, a group of about 15 people from Crown Hill who live north of Holman (NoHo) met at Carol Barber’s house as an opportunity to meet each other and to share concerns and ideas about how we could act to calm traffic and at the same time create a stronger sense of community.   One of the outcomes of that meeting was the informal formation of a handful of people interested in engaging in some fun activities on 100th that might, in turn, impact driving speeds on 100th.   For further information, contact Carol at 789-8693.

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We had a fun evening June 13 cutting fabric, snacking, gabbing, and sewing – a veritable hen fest.  We’d love to have some men join us this next time around.  We won’t be able to work as late since the second Walkable Crown Hill design charette will be the following day.

On Friday, July 11 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Abundant Life Church (9204 11th Ave NW), we’ll make some more bags.  We cut out material for two sizes thanks to a pattern that Nikki found.  Feel free to invite others who might enjoy.

We didn’t get around to stenciling but if anyone knows how to do this or has materials, please bring and teach the rest of us.

Hope to see some friendly faces.

Danielle

PS. Things to bring:
snack to share
sewing machine
scissors
thread
rotary cutter and mat (if you have one)
pins

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Our normal July meeting would have been the Sunday, July 6th of the Independence Day weekend so we’ve postponed it until July 13. We’ll update the location soon, so check back.

Location: TBA
Date: Sunday, July 13, 2008
Time: 5-7 PM
Potluck: 5-5:30
Meeting: 5:30-7

Meeting agenda items to carolbarber@comcast.net

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Getting tired of not having a sustainable choice at the grocery checkout line to the question “paper or plastic”?  The quality of those 99 cent imported bags from QFC and Freddie’s leaves a lot to be desired with almost no seam allowance, fabric that tears easily.  Let’s get our heads together. We’re going to be creating re-usable cloth shopping bags for ourselves. We have a bolt of otherwise unused fabric, and someone on hand to help us design attractive, sturdy, locally made market shopping bags.

Since this will be our first meeting we’ll need to decide several key things that will shape the future of the project.  We have lots of fabric so we don’t have to limit ourselves to making bags, should the creative inspiration hit someone.

If you have a sewing machine, bring it.  Also, bring scissors or rotary cutters, thread, pins, measuring tape – all that good stuff.  If you know other people who might be interested, feel free to bring them along.  If you have ideas for stenciling or painting on fabric, bring those ideas and materials you don’t mind sharing as well.

If everyone could bring a munchie or snack to share – it might help keep the ideas and fingers flying.

Friday, June 13th
6:30-9:00 PM
Abundant Life Church Basement
9204 11th Ave NW

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