One woman's thoughts about her world
The Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce and Ridgefield Main Street are hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony for our two newest downtown businesses this afternoon, Thursday the 27th, at 4 pm.
Three-Sixty Burgers & Brews and Fin & Feather on Pioneer Avenue will be honored. The public is invited to attend.
Meaningful Movies has a terrific film for you this week that is a must see about the amazing life of Bayard Rustin, an American leader in social movements for civil rights, socialism, nonviolence, and gay rights.
We are happy to be partnering with the Vancouver NAACP again and very grateful to have the wonderful Andrea Marzette as our guest speaker. Ms. Marzette is the communications director for the Vancouver NAACP and is incredibly active in the community. This showing is sponsored by NAACP members, Rheta and Howard Rubenstein who shared this article from the Nation about Mr. Rustin. He truly was a remarkable man and involved in so many social justice fights.
The movie is tomorrow night, Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Old Liberty Theater in downtown Ridgefield. Doors open at 6:30 to give you a chance to buy treats and libations and the show starts at 7:00. It’s free, but donations are welcome.
THE FLOWERING
What insight does a garden offer someone who studies human development? Consider the mint plant. The new homeowner, walking by the plot the previous owner used as a garden, sees nothing by bare earth, since it is December. He considers which flowers to plant there. Yet, in May, as he prepares his garden by tearing up some ‘weeds,’ he is greeted by a pleasing aroma. He then realizes this was a mint patch – even though in December it seemed to be nothing but barren expanse.
So it is with the abilities of many people. If we encounter someone in a December-like environment, we might fail to recognize in them a trait or talent that needs the warmth of a June atmosphere to flourish. Environmental conditions are crucial to both plant and human flowering.
Consider the biennial plants. Again, a new homeowner asseses his garden at the end of the first season and makes plans for next year. Some plants did not flower. He considers ripping them out of the garden, but is deterred by an early snow. The following spring, these ‘weeds’ are among the first to burst into radiant bloom.
So it is with a person who might need extra time to develop. We even have named that person (after the words of the gardener) a ‘late bloomer.’ And while his flowering occurs late, is it of lesser beauty, of lesser value?
Consider the great variety of plants and yet note the uniformity of plant life. In how many ways are we different from each other, yet in how many ways are we the same?
~ Dr. M. L. Corbin Sicoli
This fund raiser will raise money to buy a hanging system for art at the new library
A naming opportunity presents a unique chance for individuals, families and businesses to write a chapter in the history of the Ridgefield Community Library. Through a naming opportunity level gift, you become a part of the library’s legacy for generations to come. For gifts of the following amounts, donors may be recognized for their contributions.
For a $1,000,000 gift:
Library Naming (RESERVED)
For a $250,000 gift:
Children’s Area (RESERVED)
For a $100,000 gift:
Community Room
Adult Reading Area
Young Adult Area
Adult Literacy Area/Info Center
For a $75,000 gift:
“Read with me’ Area
Kids Zone
Teen Zone
For a $50,000 gift:
Kitchen Area
Technology Area
For a $25,000 gift:
Teens Game Space
Circulation Service Area
Fireplace
For a $10,000 gift:
Main Entrance Area
Study Room
Art Display Area
Meeting Room Furniture
AV System for Meeting Room (projector, screen, controls)
Conference System
To be continued next week…
March is Youth Arts Month! Help us to celebrate and be inspired by the amazing documentary story of the artists behind the full length feature film “Loving Vincent” which was painstakingly hand painted. This Meaningful Movies event is brought to you in part by the Ridgefield Art Association.
It’s at 7:00 Wednesday, March 25 at the Old Liberty Theater.
Part of the charm of downtown is our business owners! Ridgefield Main Street has an exciting line-up of speakers ready for this month’s Community Meeting at the Sportsman’s. Learn about these new businesses and why they chose our downtown Ridgefield as their location! We’ll also have updates on some of the properties for sale or scheduled for development in our downtown area.
Join us Thursday, February 20, 8:30 am at the Sportsman’s.
Breakfast service is available, and as always complimentary coffee and tea are served.
You’re invited!
Carley Meuchel has lived in Ridgefield for 26 years and she is an inspirational speaker/author helping to equip the disabled community to live to the best of their potential. Cerebral palsy left her with limited lower mobility; however her disability hasn’t stopped her from living life to its fullest.
Carley has written a book about her journey, The Wheel Truth, in which she hopes to inspire and equip others to stay positive despite the struggles in life and business; as well as teach the able-bodied community how to share success with us.
Here’s what Carley has to say about how she came to write the book:
‘Starting a business is not easy. Having a disability and starting a business is twice as hard. It took me forever to decide to move forward. The more I thought about it, the more it became clear I had to be open to the possibility that my life was more than my disability and my circumstances.
The truth is I just had to get started. There are so many people willing to help, but I had to speak up and say, “I need help.”
I built a friendship tribe and a business tribe and am living a life with no regrets. I’m on my path to realizing my goals and my dreams.You can find me here, on Facebook (The Wheel Truth) or on my website carleymeuchel.com’
Someone left this beautiful arrangement of quince blossoms on my front porch yesterday. What a wonderful surprise!
I’d like to thank whoever did it. Was it you?
You may have noticed three “Seniors Thank You” signs around Ridgefield. The Seniors for Schools group placed them on three of the Support the School Bond signs yesterday to show their appreciation for the support and good will that was shown to them. The encouraging comments the seniors received has helped keep them energized throughout the bond campaign season. Thank you Ridgefield.
To celebrate the recent completion of the project to improve pedestrian access to the headquarters of the Ridgefield National Wildlife offices, project partners and residents are invited to a procession on the newly improved path and a ribbon cutting celebration at the Refuge.
The procession will meet on Friday, February 14th at 1:00pm at Overlook Park in downtown Ridgefield and walk north on Main Avenue about one mile to the refuge. The path will follow the newly constructed sidewalk and pass over the new and improved Gee Creek crossing. At the Refuge, a brief presentation and ribbon cutting at 1:30pm will conclude the procession. If you prefer not to hike, you may park at the Refuge and meet the procession for the ribbon cutting at 1:30pm.
The completion of this major project improves access to the Refuge and further links the Refuge with its local community. When the Carty Lake Trail opens for the season in May, walkers will be able to complete a 4.8 mile loop through Downtown Ridgefield, the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, and the Port of Ridgefield. The loop will serve as a tour of the heart of Ridgefield and offers views of historic downtown buildings, Gee Creek, the Cathlapotle Plankhouse, Carty Lake, and Lake River.
Saturday, February 22, Elizabeth Brush of Myrtle’s Tea House is offering a tea to benefit the library building fund. There will be two seatings: 12:00 and 1:30.
This charming tea house is at 322 North Third Avenue in downtown Ridgefield, and it’s always a pleasure to enjoy the ambience and good food at Myrtle’s.
Cost is $50 per person, of $45 if you are a member of the Friends of the Ridgefield Library.
For reservations and more information, contact Jeanne Androvich at 808-276-7088 or jeanne.androvich@mindspring.com.
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