Tuesday, November 30, 2010

BPNA meeting tonight, Tues. 11/30

Our rescheduled monthly meeting will be tonight, Tuesday, Nov. 30. As usual,
we'll meet at 7:00p.m. at the Free Methodist Church on the corner of Grimes and
S. Lincoln.

AGENDA

Bring a can of food tonight!
To express our gratitude to the Free Methodist Church for providing our meeting
space, please bring a can of food to add to the church's food drive.

Neighborhood Improvement Grant
Update on grant our proposal. We delivered the grant application on Nov. 5, and
will do a presentation for the grant committee next week. The grant will be for
several improvements in Bryan Park: a bridge across the creek where a rocky path
is currently used, and a kiosk near the playground for park announcement and
neighborhood news.

T-shirts and Chef's Aprons
I'll bring several of the items we had printed for BPNA this summer, if you'd
like to purchase one for yourself or as an early Christmas gift! T-shirts and
aprons are $15 each.

Conservation District Update
The Historic Commission plans to vote on the recent survey that was done for the
Bryan Park neighborhood. The vote will be on Dec. 9, at 4pm in the Showers
building. You are welcome to attend the meeting.

Cat Bells
Tonia Matthews has cat bells for anyone who would like one. The bells are free
for the asking. This is in response to a previous item about cats going after
birds in our neighborhood.

Proposal to open Google email list
Any comments on the new email list policy?

Incident Report
Regular monthly report from Dick and Mary Lou Mitchell, our Neighborhood Watch
representatives.

ONGOING PROJECTS
Stormwater Runoff
Go to http://groups.google.com/group/bpna-stormwater-working-group to join or
follow the discussion.

Conservation District
Go to http://groups.google.com/group/bpna-conservation-district-working-group to
join or follow the discussion.

Please email me at mpm_mil...@yahoo.com if you'd like to add anything to the
agenda.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Winter Farmers' Market Starts this Saturday at Harmony School

For the first time in recent history, Bloomington residents will have
year-round access to food grown by local farmers and sold at a weekly
farmers' market. The Local Growers Guild is kicking off its annual
Bloomington Winter Farmers Market, this Saturday, from 9 am to noon.

Please help us spread the word about the extended season! Located at
Harmony School near the intersection of 2nd and Woodlawn, the market
will offer fresh produce, meat, and dairy products along with prepared
foods, special events, and live music.

This is a great opportunity to kick off your holiday shopping and
support local, ecological businesses at the same time. Gift items
include fair trade, organic coffee, herbal teas, a wide range of
soaps, salves and lip butters, holiday jars of soda bread mix, candle
arrangements, wreaths and centerpieces, fresh flower bouquets,
ornaments, gift baskets of strawberry and blackberry jam, holiday
roasts, blooming bulbs, holiday cookie gift bags, Christmas stollen
and alpaca yarns.
In addition, consider giving a gift that will keep on giving all year.
There will be CSA gift subscriptions and/or gift certificates
available from Heartland Family Farms, Muddy Fork Farm and Bakery and
Schacht Farm. Gift memberships to the Local Growers Guild will also
be available.

Available produce will include salad greens, kale, squash, mushrooms,
herbs, potatoes and sweet potatoes, garlic, onions, chard, carrots,
spinach, apples, and more. Farmers will offer locally raised beef,
pork, chicken, and turkey, along with milk, yogurt, eggs, tofu,
cheese, and breads.

In addition to fresh foods, shoppers can purchase frozen vegetables,
relishes, local grains, fresh flowers, fair trade coffee, seeds,
organic soil amendments, and potted plants. There will also be a wide
range of other farm products and holiday gifts, such as dried herbs,
jam, kombucha, herbed vinegars, herbal teas, soaps and salves, fiber,
wool, and wreaths.

Visit www.localgrowers.org for more information about the Bloomington
Winter Farmers Market, including schedule and parking information, a
full list of products and vendors, and recipes showcasing seasonal
ingredients.

Robert Fischman

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Bells for cats

For those of you at the last meeting, you'll remember that we talked about encouraging people to bell their cats if they go outdoors. There will be something in the newsletter but I wanted the neighborhood to know that there are free bells on the front porch table of 1307 S. Grant for people to take -- sold to us at cost by T&T -- support your local businesses!

Tonia Matthew