Georgia NeSmith's Blog (20)

Food carts/trucks as neighborhood/neighborly events

The story in today's D&C re: downtown food trucks & carts inspired me to do a bit of research on the very popular food cart venues in Madison, WI, where I live now. In the process I came across a story that made me think immediately of the 19th Ward and how these could be used as a way of bringing neighbors together.

Food carts and trucks are a downtown tradition here in Madison, but they are also spread out everywhere around the city. Among many wonderful ideas, there…

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Added by Georgia NeSmith on January 30, 2015 at 10:22am — No Comments

New work added to my photo website

Interested in what I've been up to lately? Check out the photo galleries added to my photo website.

Lake Monona (Madison is a city between two lakes, Wingra and Monona. This offers extensive shorelines all around the city.

These photos are taken in a neighborhood that is in the heart of the city.

And…

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Added by Georgia NeSmith on June 24, 2011 at 7:27pm — No Comments

Rochester Redux in Spoken Word Performance.

Attended my first "open mic" event at a local coffee house, called Tuvalu, in magnificent "downtown" Verona, WI (downtown is about 4 blocks square & much of THAT is residential) last night. Read some of my poems - old stuff for Rochester crowds but totally fresh and new here.

Much of the event involved some pretty bad singers & guitar players, but this is "down home" open mic and everyone is supportive…

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Added by Georgia NeSmith on April 23, 2011 at 10:18am — No Comments

Farewell to Rochester

Movers pull up Nov. 26, and I will be in my new place in Verona, WI, by Dec. 3.

I am holding an event to say goodbye to my friends in Rochester on Saturday, Nov. 20, in the…

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Added by Georgia NeSmith on October 22, 2010 at 8:30pm — No Comments

Neighbor needs handyman work

I have a neighbor who has been unemployed for a very long time despite all his efforts to find a job.

His preference is for gardening, outdoor maintenance, indoor handyman work, although he has also been employed in hotel kitchen work.

He’s a really good guy. I haven’t had him do any work for me because my landlord takes care of all that stuff, but I can vouch for his character.

If he doesn’t get some income… Continue

Added by Georgia NeSmith on September 18, 2010 at 12:36pm — No Comments

2nd Annual "Taste of Chili Avenue" Fest to be held Sat. 7/24

The Second annual Taste of Chili Avenue Festival will be held Saturday, July 24, from noon to 6 p.m., on Chili Avenue.

The main stage at the HSBC parking lot at Chili and Thurston will feature jazz, Rhythm and Blues, and a host of other performances. A second stage in the parking lot at the New Progressive Cathedral Church of God in Christ at 410 Chili will feature gospel music and other spiritual performances.

The event is sponsored by the Chili Avenue Business…

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Added by Georgia NeSmith on July 19, 2010 at 2:00pm — 2 Comments

New at Bluerosesphotography.com

Calling attention to my photography website, where people can view and purchase the best of my photography:

http://bluerosesphotography.com

I have posted six new images in the Floral gallery - all of them taken from a brief walk at Highland Park, near the reservoir.

The name "Blueroses" is taken from Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie." "Blue Roses" is the nickname that protagonist Jim Wingfield gave to his… Continue

Added by Georgia NeSmith on April 16, 2010 at 2:05pm — No Comments

My Deprived Childhood

Thinking about all the things I didn't have when I was a child...

I didn’t have friends or siblings or parents who got shot or stabbed to death.

I didn’t have parents who beat me or any of my siblings, of which I had four.

I didn’t have parents who were drug addicts or alcoholics. In fact, I never saw them drink any alcohol. Ever.

I didn’t have parents in jail.

I didn’t have a father who beat my mother, or vice versa.

I didn’t… Continue

Added by Georgia NeSmith on April 8, 2010 at 10:30pm — No Comments

Disrespect in the Ward

In the past few days there has been a lively discussion in the 19thWCA yahoo group regarding the problems we have with neighborhood kids who persist in being disrespectful towards us, to the point of making life in the Ward extremely unpleasant.

Unfortunately the discussion itself has become extremely unpleasant, particularly for me. I have no intention of adding to a flame war as that serves no useful purpose and directs problem-solving energies into pointless anger.

But… Continue

Added by Georgia NeSmith on April 8, 2010 at 11:00am — 2 Comments

A gift that gives more

See my http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4d5449324d7a417a4d7a553d0d0a&sb=1" target="_blank">smilebox greeting!

Hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving and you have much to be grateful for!

I am grateful for many things, not the least of which is my new job at The Community Place. So this year I am donating to the agency 15% of all profits from the sale of my photography & digital art sold between today… Continue

Added by Georgia NeSmith on November 27, 2009 at 7:00pm — No Comments

Nancy Sung Shelton for RCSD School Board

The D&C has endorsed a friend of mine for City School Board. I urge everyone who truly cares about our school system to vote for her!

LINK

I've known Nancy for a couple of years now, since I met her when I was a consumer representative to the Monroe County Cultural and Linguistic Competency Committee. Nancy will bring a fresh voice and the perspective of a parent who has been through it all. She was… Continue

Added by Georgia NeSmith on September 4, 2009 at 12:30pm — No Comments

On a more positive note...

I want to call everybody's attention to a wonderful happening on the corner of Chili & Thurston today. I was able to catch part of it but unfortunately my camera's battery died 1/3 of the way through.

Kids from the Carlson Y and Miss Sweet Potato Pie's dance studio kids joined forces today to celebrate Michael Jackson's life and music. The energy and joy these kids have - and their incredible talent - is beginning to redeem that notorious corner. WOW. Just WOW.

Here… Continue

Added by Georgia NeSmith on July 7, 2009 at 11:29pm — 1 Comment

The Beloved Community Supports Slater's Raiders for Peace

Check out this story in the D&C about yesterday's event over on the East Side.

Volunteers walk in friendship in northeast Rochester

Residents gather to promote 'a beloved community' through building relationships. Volunteers walked through neighborhoods and fellowshipped at St. Bridget's Church.

I never intended to be in the lead in this story. The reporter… Continue

Added by Georgia NeSmith on February 15, 2009 at 4:00pm — No Comments

So many thank you's....

Once again I must thank the mysterious person(s) who shoveled my walk on New Year's Eve, making it easier for me to get to my car so I could dash off to do a bit of SuperNanna babysitting for a young couple who needed the break.

And also I need to thank Bob Patt for the brand-spanking new microwave oven that does absolutely everything I need it to do. What a generous gift! Bob owns a microwave dealership -- and I didn't get the name of it!

I feel so wonderfully blessed.

Added by Georgia NeSmith on January 2, 2009 at 7:53am — No Comments

Supporting our neighbors on Trafalgar St.

On a bitterly cold, snowy night, with only a few hours notice, neighbors came together in a gathering of more than a dozen to show solidarity for the family and express our deepest wishes for a better tomorrow. Another group of neighbors from up and down that street will be gathering in a few days to talk about what happened and to figure out how to prevent it in the future.

The family has lost their home and nearly everything in it. However, many people are coming forward with… Continue

Added by Georgia NeSmith on December 31, 2008 at 9:44pm — No Comments

Without Hope, Change is Impossible

I originally posted on my gnesmith weblog on the D&C back in March, and re-posted it in August. I know there are lots of folks who don't even go to the D&C website any more, so I thought I'd post this here as well.

It seems especially fitting as we close out the old year and enter the new.

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One of the people I learned much from in graduate school in Iowa was Juanita. No, she wasn't Hispanic, she was Norwegian. Not sure exactly how she came by that… Continue

Added by Georgia NeSmith on December 31, 2008 at 3:36pm — No Comments

Here we go again! Taxed aka "Stinks" is at it again!

Well, here we go again. RochesterStinks, AKA TaxeduptheWazoo, along with his "hate Rochester" cronies, are at it again, responding to today's story about the fire at the house on Trafalgar that was shot at the other day.

http://tinyurl.com/trafalgarst

Jump into the fray if you can, folks. Just stay on topic and don't let the turkeys lure you into personal attacks.

Added by Georgia NeSmith on December 30, 2008 at 10:00am — No Comments

Check out new posts on my main weblog, Random Acts of Love...

See my latest posts on my main weblog, Random Acts of Love...

My Perfect Day: Part 1 -- Picture Taking and Christmas Shopping

My Perfect Day: Part 2 -- Walking the 'Hood

My Perfect Day: Part 3 --… Continue

Added by Georgia NeSmith on December 26, 2008 at 10:00am — No Comments

Check out my vid of Peter Evans' Holiday Party!

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Added by Georgia NeSmith on December 25, 2008 at 11:12am — No Comments

Building a loving community, one neighbor at a time

Hey everybody, wish I could have joined you yesterday. That looks & sounds like a lot of fun!

Here's something else you can do to help build a more loving community: join "Our Beloved Community" on FaceBook! (I'm gonna put up a "ning" site, too, but that will take a bit more work.)

About the organization: