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Show SUMMER 2004 The West View Fairpark Residents Clean Up Neighborhoo Why I Like Living in Rose Park By Jilene Whitby If you don’t think that one person can make a difference, just step back and take a look around. Some things that we take for granted are being made better by motivated people who know that government doesn’t have all. the answers; that solutions start locally. Individuals in the Fairpark community have taken the initiative to make the world a better place by starting in their own neighborhood. Charles and Alta Fillmore, and Angie Velasquez sponsor orange flags at pedestrian crossings along 900 West. They make sure there are enough flags, purchase more when they get low and try to keep them picked up off the ground and evenly distributed on the By Robert E. Philbrick In September of 1954, my wife and family moved into a newly constructed home in Rose Park. At that time there were very few people in the area. We were excited to own our first home and pleased to be on our particular lot. | | We liked the fact that we lived far enough away from the heart of the busy business area, yet had convenient access to schools, churches, bus transportation, parks and employment facilities. We had a dream of becoming a part of a strong, healthy community and beginning a life of raising our family. As time passed, _ many young families, like us, moved into the area. As the houses were completed, a neighborly feeling - each striving to beautify their place in the community - began to grow with the desire to help and support each other. In the beginning, Rose Park was mostly fields of weeds, but as people moved into the area, it became a blooming garden of beauty and comfort. As parents and children worked together, the dream of making Rose Park a special and inviting area in which to live became a reality. As the years have gone by, many of the children raised here have returned to make their home and rear their children, knowing of the many advantages of growth in this part of four corners of the intersections. Their efforts make this crosswalk safer for pedestrians. About a year ago, Tom DeVroom, new in the Fairpark neighborhood, saw a project in the community that needed to be done. The North Temple viaduct (where it rises over the tracks and into the downtown area) had trash, broken cement and inadequate lighting. The area was dark and unsafe at night for pedestrians. Tom started by cleaning up the area, talking with city and state officials about repairing lighting, putting in fencing, and repairing the crumbling sidewalks. It is taking time to get the state and city to get the work organized, since all of ‘this takes money. Persistence is the key. In the meantime, Tom has shared his project and dream with the community council, which in turn organized the city. My Tom DeVroom, Tesleene of the Fairpark neignborhocd. volunteers to clean up the pecleeted area around the North Temple viaduct, between 400 and 600 West. Photo by Jilene Whitby and borhood cleaner involved with the regular clean-up one Saturday a month. The community has together, the Fairpark place to take pride in. since included other areas that need attention to make the Fairpark neigh- We can each our community. and safer. Working individuals like Alta, Charles, and Tom to help others catch a vision of make a difference in Sometimes it takes what we all can do to make a safer, cleaner and more enjoyable neighborhood. Wild Oats, a national organic foods grocery By Vicky Wason Many people consider eating healthier foods, but are turned off by the hassle and extra expense of shopping at trendy organic food chains. Organic food buying clubs are a great way to get inexpensive, healthy food and build a sense of community in your neighborhood. There are cooperative food warehouses in various regions of the country that deliver to food clubs made up of neighbors or like-minded persons. In the Glendale neighborhood, a club orders food every four weeks from Tucson Cooperative Warehouse (www.tcwfoodcoop.com). There is usually a minimum order. The Glendale club’s minimum is only $200, easily met by its ten members. Some Glendale Food Buying Club sort through their orders in the. common room at Wasatch Co-housing once a month after the shipment arrives from Arizona. Photo by Vicki Wason in people order more than $200 a month individually, while others buy only one or two items. Food prices are a lot cheaper when you buy in larger quantities. For example, you might buy a case of pasta sauce for about two thirds to one half of what you would spend at chain that has several local outlets. HOWeNet buying in bulk is not required. Why organic foods? Food raised naturally has a better chance of having the maximum nutritional value than does food raised through artificial, chemical processes. Organic foods are not blighted by chemical residues in or on the food. The use of chemicals kills the life of the soil. Eating organic foods encourages more intelligent use of precious natural resources. Many of the chemicals used on the soil are petroleum-based. Petroleum is a limited resource that shouldn’t be wasted to raise questionable food. Tucson Cooperative Warehouse provides a catalog for the Glendale buying club and ordering is done by computer, on-line. Delivery takes one week. Once a month, club members meet the delivery truck at a mutually convenient spot, with checks in hand. Unloading and organizing the groceries takes about 30 minutes... | If you are interested and would like to see - a catalog, please call Vicky at 908-0388 or email vilwason@hotmail.com. _ here and am happy and pleased to have the privilege of living in the strong Rose Park community. I feel a loyalty to our surroundings. To me this is home, where I feel secure and comfortable. Angie is a community Glendale Buying Club Provides Inexpensive, Organic Food the neighborhood has grown strength through our community activities and has become a diversified and cohesive area. I enjoy my relationship with the people encouraged community members to get Members. of Page 4 Wasatch Commons Cohousing A great place to Live in Glendale Where neighbors share more, waste less and build enriching relationships through consensus, compassion and working hard together - the heart of a good community. Tours every 2nd Saturday, 10:00 am in the summer, 1:00 pm the rest of theyear, and every 4th— Nene yy at 5:00 pe Call Vicky at 801 -908- 0388 www.cohousing.org _ |