So much done in one week!

So much happened this past week that I needed all of Saturday to gather my thoughts and rest. I spent three days in Brooklyn so I will discuss each visit!

On Monday, Missy and I attended our second CCBB meeting. I was nervous because I hadn’t contacted Gail in a while and I thought she might be upset with me for that. Working with Bay Brook organization has really taken off and therefore taken up a lot of my time. They have a lot of needs and I have a lot of flexibility, which is great. I even got nervous because I tried to smile at Gail and I thought she was giving me a dirty look back! I nudged Missy and asked her what she thought, but she said not to worry and that she would do the talking after the meeting if I wanted. In the end, things were fine, but I don’t want to let anyone down. A woman giving a presentation about identity theft led the first half of the meeting. She talked about shredding mail and how to protect your credit cards. There are a lot of older people that come to these meetings and they had many questions and comments. Gail also mentioned a passing of an older lady who was well liked in the community. She started to tear up while talking about her and so did others in the room. I even remembered the woman, she was at the last CCBB meeting had a hunched over walk. It made me think about community and how each person who becomes a regular in community activities marks there place, has a purpose, and is worth remembering. This is what helps make “place” what it is.

There was one disturbing incident that took place during the meeting, I’m sure Missy touched on this as well, involving a Latino man. During one of the lulls where people ask questions, a Latino man stood up and discussed starting a non-profit organization for Latinos in the community. He said that he wanted to help bring business to the area and was looking for help or a space to begin the process. One member of the board immediately scolded him for speaking too soon and not waiting till the very end of the night. Everyone else just looked perplexed, almost annoyed. Someone sitting down mentioned that Latino business was not exactly what they meant in regard to bettering the community. It was upsetting to watch because the man was made to look foolish and left without much direction for his idea. Luckily, Carol from Bay Brook, said that he could come to her office and she would talk to him about finding a location for meetings, etc. I guess this incident was a reminder that all communities have their biases, concerns, and pre-judgments about people.

After the meeting, Missy and I talked to Gail about raising money for the Firehouse and other projects we were working on. Gail was happy to talk about all that and my worries were gone. However, I left the meeting with a stale taste in my mouth based on the incident with the Latino man.

On Thursday, Missy and I went to Bay Brook for our first ‘Clean up the Block ‘ event. Carol had purchased large black trash bags, gloves, and a push broom. We knocked on Chips door and told her we were ready to go. What an experience we had, at first it seemed that not too many people were going to get involved. Chip, however, was rearing to go and started rounding up neighbors and children. There were a handful of teenagers who showed no interest in participating and stood around eating from the very same UTZ chip bags we were picking up from the ground. I will say one thing about this block, they love to yell. Chip and her daughter were yelling at everyone, telling them to pick this up or that. The lady that lived next door to Chip announced that she was not going to help at all because we picked a time that she wasn’t happy with. She wanted us to choose a time before three, but we were aiming for a time where the kids could get involved after school. She made a big stink about and stood on her porch watching everyone else sweep and clean. Another lady yelled at the concept of picking up trash off peoples lawns that were not participating, or not home. She said if they didn’t want to help they shouldn’t get anything done for them.

Watching the kids get involved was the best part, but for some it was not without a fight. The boys were very helpful in both sweeping and carrying the dustpans to our overflowing trash bags. I talked to one boy about what to pick up and what to leave behind. I said that rocks were a part of nature and they should be left behind, he asked me what nature was and I told him “everything that was here before we were.” He was probably six years old and had failed kindergarten once. It was sad to have to talk to explain to these children the basics about our earth. I am guessing that many of them have never left the Brooklyn area. I gave encouraging feedback to all the kids involved and thanked them for being such great helpers.

Apparently, Chip says we will run into syringes and dope bags if we clean up certain areas. I am glad we have gloves. She was wearing a shirt that read “We all have problems, mine are just bigger than yours.” Amazing!

The street looked so much better after the clean up. We got about eight bags of trash. Chip was happy with the results, but wanted us to come back the next day and help more. We told her we would leave her with the materials for further clean up, but wouldn’t be back until the following Thursday. Looks like we are going to try and help out with block clean up every Thursday, if possible.

Carol, Missy, and I loaded up Carol’s car with trash and took it to the dump. We discussed adding an extra trashcan to each block because you can only have three trash bags per can. Not sure the formalities of such a plan though.

After the clean up, Missy and I went to the firehouse with Bill (Gail’s husband). He showed us the kitchen and then suggested items that the kitchen was in need of. Large tables being the most urgent and plastic silverware and plates. It wasn’t as bad as I had thought and we may just try and add some fundraising on to one of our other events.

Lastly, on Friday I met with Sarah at her home to discuss several different events and start planning for them. She still wants me to teach the vegetarian class at The Cove and we picked a date, November 14. I gave her my outline for the class and she liked it. I am going to make a work sheet to go along with it so that people can fill out the information I give them during my presentation. I am excited about it, but also nervous.

The Healthy Holiday event is a go also! This event is even bigger and will require more volunteers, which I am trying to round up. The slogan for the event will be “Healthy Food, Healthy Holidays, and Healthy Fun.” We know we want people to leave with a menu idea, have cooking on site, games, and budgeting ideas. I am hoping to round up enough people so that each volunteer focuses on one area. Otherwise, I will really be in over my head.

The running club is a go too, it starts next Sunday. I need to get the work out though, which may be hard before the first meeting. As of now, the running group will meet at 3 p.m at the soccer pavilion in Brooklyn. I have a route that Sarah printed out, but so far it looks confusing. I am hoping that running it makes more sense of it. Sarah wanted me to do the running group two days a week, but that is just too much. I am getting nervous that I am saying yes to everything and will tire myself out if I don’t pace myself.

Sarah also mentioned that The Cove is doing interviews with people who used to live near the watershed and asked if I would like to come to a meeting about them. She is hoping I can do some oral histories. I am going to a talk on Wednesday that will shed more light on this project.

I am excited that so many of my ideas are really happening. I had no idea I would get this far so fast. I am a bit overwhelmed though and don’t want to take on too much. I think this week I will focus mostly on planning the specifics for the veg class, the clean up day Thursday, and rounding up people for the Holiday class.

Hours: 14

Words: 1533