Upside Downtown: Making community a more vibrant place to li

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Community/Creativity Catalyst

Leita Hermanson Crossfield

Welcome to Upside Downtown and the Sparks for Innovation Newsletter.

Upside Downtown. Caring. Connecting. Communicating. Working together for humanity, community, and connection in Everett and beyond.
(425)344-7599.
We publish a FREE e-mail Newsletter in coordination with the Upside Downtown web site and we welcome your submissions. Copyright 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007. Leita Hermanson Crossfield. All rights reserved.

Whether you're a survivor or a loved one, dealing with PTSD can be a lonely journey. Fortunately, there is help. Click on the image above for a great starting point in your journey. "My mission is to ensure that other people never have to be alone with the pain of PTSD, struggling to heal without help or support." --Patience Mason

Patience Mason publishes the website, patiencepress.com as well as books such as "Recovering from the War...", news articles, and information about her and her husband's personal experience with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and how she and they, found healing in their journey. This site and her written works have been highly recommended to me, and I have read many, which have all been very helpful. Her most recent work is "Home from the War," which can be downloaded directly from her website. Her site is full of information, and other useful documents which you can download as well, some for free.

Leita and Robert

WHAT'S NEW?

For more details on Jennifer R. Bartley's book, Designing the New Kitchen Garden An American Potager Handbook, click here.

Well, it's fall, almost winter, and while I did plant a garden, it didn't quite look like the one featured on the cover of Jennifer Bartley's book. The four raised beds I created are now empty. The only thing remaining are the Sweet Peas, which are still climbing up the back fence. I learned a lot this year, and relied a lot on Mel Bartholomew's book "Square Foot Gardening," which is excellent and a book I'd recommend to anyone starting a garden. Let me know if you have a garden, small or large, even if it's just a few containers of tomatoes. I'll also be sharing information I've gathered from my own research into living an organic lifestyle. I'd love to hear your news and stories, too. So stop in often, e-mail, or call me at 425-344-7599.DIV>

For more information about Kitchen Gardening and the International Kitchen Garden Day 2007, click here.

SELECTED ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

FRIDAYS SATURDAYS. MUSIC AT ESPRESSO AMERICANO, At the Main Library branch, downtown Everett, 2702 Hoyt. 7-9 P.M every Friday and Saturday night. No cover, no age limit, kids welcome. Espresso Americana is also now at the Everett Transit Station. Same great coffee, freshly made sandwiches and salads, and, of course, great local artwork.

COLBY ARCADE ART AND DOWNTOWN SCULPTURE EXHIBIT features sculptures in the downtown core. The Colby Arcade leads from the EverPark Garage to Colby, next to Renee's. The downtown art sculpture exhibit is sponsored in part by Craig Skotdal/Skotdal Real Estate, John Haugen/Crown Photo Systems and Rodney Moody. Sculptures are for sale. For more information: Van Valey House, 2130 Colby Ave, Everett, WA 98201, (425) 257-8300.

EVERETT PUBLIC LIBRARY HOSTS MANY COMMUNITY EVENTS. From free children's plays to Puppet Shows, a Mother-Daughter Books Group, and kids story times, the library has many activities to please all. Call 425-257-8030. Events are held at the Main Library on Hoyt and at the Evergreen Branch. www.epls.org.

QUOTES FROM READERS

“Hi Leita! I just wanted to drop a line to you to say I am so happy for you that your husband is home safe and sound. This must be a huge relief to you, even in the midst of readjusting to life with your partner around. I bet Robert is pleased as punch. I admire your strength and positive attitude through your husband's absence. Not everyone can handle those circumstances. I'm glad you were rewarded with his safe return. This also keeps me grounded in the knowledge that not all strong spouses get the same happy result - and they are in my heart and thoughts always,” MJ.

“Hi Leita, Thanks, as always for your newsletter. I went to the Neighborhoods section and noticed a couple of tiny things that could do with some tweaking: On the right hand description part: the description of the neighborhoods says "Bayside encompasses most of downtown". Oh boy, somebody from Pt Gardner might take exception to that. The boundary is Hewitt so we actually kind of share the core and they have the train station and all of the industrial stuff around it. Also, Mary Ehrlich is still showing up as the Chair - Elle is correctly mentioned on the left side. Keep up the good work. Thanks again.” Valerie.

“Hi Leita!!! Thank you so much for what you are doing for our community! Your newsletter is wonderful, and I'm sure it's making a big difference to the many events in our area!!!! I'm so glad that your husband is home safely. A big thank you to him and to you for his service. I'm looking forward to seeing you again soon!” – Myrna.

“A special thanks from me to your husband for making sure that my family is safe each and every day.” Mark.

“Hi, Leita: I enjoyed reading that your husband made it home safely and that Robert and he were enjoying doing ‘dad’ things together. Also, there's so much going on in Everett. I really believe you're making a difference by keeping everyone connected and informed.” Keep up the good work! Llynda.

“Leita, I probably have stated this before but it deserves to be stated again. Thank you so much for the weekly updates on the Everett happenings. It helps me to stay connected to Everett (since I have left employment in Everett). I am glad that your husband is back home. Take care! Have a great weekend!” Tammy.

“Dear Leita Hermanson: Thank you for having me on your e-mail subscription of Upside Downtown. I am a member of the Bayside Neighborhood, which incorporates most of the downtown businesses. I wanted to inform you and your readers of a Neighborhood event that is coming up, Clarke Park Bazaar.” Aileen M. Langhans.

"Your e-newsletter is GREAT. I really caught up on what is going on in town!" David Shaw, Arts Presenting & Organizational Development, Art Beat, 425.444.5052 phone-message-fax, www.artbeatshows.org.

Your guide and webhost.

Leita Hermanson Crossfield (click photo to learn more)

CONNECTING. COMMUNICATING. WORKING TOGETHER.
Thank you for visiting Upside Downtown. Upside Downtown was originally created to provide relevant and helpful information to help downtown stakeholders, businesses and organizations make connections and to spread the word about downtown Everett, to be a catalyst to help make downtown a more vibrant place to live, work, learn and play. We've expanded our focus to include healthy living, with a special focus on organic kitchen gardening and a simpler, more healthy lifestyle.

Please feel free to browse our site to learn about downtown Everett. If you're a visitor, click on our Visitor's guide where you'll find a wealth of information especially for you. At this site, you'll find the important associations , groups and businesses that make up our downtown; an online Visitor's Guide that features dining, shopping, entertainment, accomodations and more; a constantly updated events calendar; important downtown news; important information to grow your business as well as future plans, marketing opportunities and more. This site is constantly evolving, and we'll be adding more content all the time. We also welcome your suggestions.

Our vision is that Upside Downtown can be the voice and the clearing house that downtown groups and others can tap into, so that we can all work together to augment and support the efforts of the many non-profits, organizations, groups and businesses that are all working in our city to make it an even better place to live, work, learn and play.

From riverfront to waterfront, together, we will choreograph Everett into a beautifully orchestrated community symphony. We hope you will join us in these efforts, and thank you for your inspiration.

With warm regards,

Leita

Friday, March 26, 2004

Freedom, First Amendment

As I write this newsletter, I am grateful for how great our country is, that we have the many freedoms we have, freedoms, which have been purchased through great sacrifice. Freedom of speech. Freedom of press. Our First Amendment. There are some countries where an ordinary citizen such as myself, or anyone for that matter, would not have the freedom to publish a newsletter such as this. There are places where the freedom to express our opinions, to publish information, does not exist. And this is a freedom we must cherish, honor and protect for without it we slip into tyranny. I was given the following quote by my high school English teacher, who also was my advisor for the newspaper where I served as Editor, and I still cherish it to this day: “Given the choice of a free government or a free press, I prefer the latter.” Thomas Jefferson. Back then he wrote: “Much of what you say won’t be heard. Much of what you say will hit home. It’s dangerous either way. It’s what keeps you going. You don’t look for someone to turn to. You assume the stance. You are to rise above it all. You are to be a herald….” Barry Grimes, May 27, 1983. (Thank you Mr. Grimes for your wise words and belief in me.)

7:39 pm est

Monday, November 10, 2003

Thanks to those who have served

First, in honor of Veterans Day, I would like to humbly thank all those who have served in our armed forces as well as all those who are currently serving. I know many of you have served our country and I thank you. Thank you for your sacrifices, sacrifices that so often we take for granted, yet they are what have made our country the great place that it is. A place where we can have dreams and visions for our communities, and a place where we can freely take part in activities and groups to bring those visions to fruition, to mold and shape our neighborhoods, cities, and country, to make them a better place.

What an exciting time we find ourselves in. Many creative people are working on plans all throughout the city that will continue to transform our community in positive and spirit building ways. At last week's Downtown Update luncheon we heard the latest on the County Campus Redevelopment Initiative projects which will bring a beautiful plaza, cafe, parking garage, and more to the city, next door to the new Everett Events Center. We also learned the latest visions of the Committee to Establish Downtown Public Spaces, which has been developing plans for several downtown parks and many linked open spaces that would create a new "Jewel Box" of open spaces to enhance our downtown. Please see our feature article for a recap of the meeting.

Our downtown business improvement area is currently being studied, and could eventually bring changes as well. Please see related story in our downtown news section for more details. The new coffee shop in our downtown library is now under construction, bringing another gathering place to our downtown.

This week, there are artist openings, a volleyball tournament and more for you to enjoy, please see our events section.

10:52 pm est

2004.03.01 | 2003.11.01 | 2003.10.01 | 2003.08.01 | 2003.07.01 | 2003.06.01