Fr. Tony Update...
Megan Update...
Recommended Watching...
The Better Tomato Ring...
FREECYCLE? Ever heard of it?...
Morgantown's POSITIVE SPIN...

Fr. Tony Update:

Well, after many long weeks, Tony returns today for a visit to the oncologist to have blood work done and see what's going on within. Please do keep him in your prayers today. All in all he's been faring well, aside from the persistent itching and legs that don't seem to want to work very well.

Megan Update:

Some time this week she arrives in Portland, sans housing. More on this saga as it unfolds.

Recommended Watching:

The other night we watched a fantastic film, Miss Potter. Definitely a must see!!!

The Better Tomato Ring:

Ah, yes... it's that time of year. Time for the bucolic side of you to take great pleasure in the art of playing in the dirt. grin

A couple of days ago I began trying to tackle the weeds attempting to invade my various flower beds. Yesterday morning I saturated everything in Miracle Grow. Although I dug up at least 20+ tomato plants invading my rose bed, I've still got even more needed digging up.

Have you ever tried to actually contain a thriving tomato plant on those tomato rings sold at all the hardware stores? Virtually impossible, and inadequate for the job. If you're interested in having a BETTER TOMATO RING, I've put together some instructions for how to make a long lasting, durable, and ample ring for your tomato plants. All it takes is a roll of galvanized fencing/mesh, and a bit of your time. I've been using these types of rings for years, and they are far better then the unstable little rings sold at the local hardware store.

FREECYCLE? Ever heard of it?

Changing the world on gift at a time

WHAT IS FREECYCLE?

Excerpted from freecycle.org

The Freecycle Network™ is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (getting) stuff for free in their own towns. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them's good people). Membership is free. To sign up, find your community by clicking on the region on the left. You may then go directly to your local group by clicking on "Go To" or you may immediately join by clicking on "Join." It will generate an automatic e-mail which, when sent, will sign you up for the local group and send you a response with instructions on how it works. Can't find a group near you? You might want to consider starting one (click on "Start a Group" for instructions). Have fun!

The Freecycle Network was started in May 2003 to promote waste reduction in Tucson's downtown and help save desert landscape from being taken over by landfills. The Network provides individuals and non-profits an electronic forum to "recycle" unwanted items. One person's trash can truly be an other's treasure!

Number of Freecycle™ Communities: 4,041
Number of Freecycle™ Members: 3,540,995

HOW FREECYCLE WORKS

When you want to find a new home for something -- whether it's a chair, a fax machine, piano, or an old door -- you simply send an e-mail offering it to members of the local Freecycle group.

Or, maybe you're looking to acquire something yourself. Simply respond to a member's offer, and you just might get it. After that, it's up to the giver to decide who receives the gift and to set up a pickup time for passing on the treasure.

Our main rule: Everything posted must be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages.

Non-profit organizations also benefit from The Freecycle Network. Post the item or items you want to give away and specify that you wish the gift to go to a nonprofit cause. It's entirely your choice! It's a free cycle of giving. The Freecycle Network is incorporated as a nonprofit organization and is tax-exempt under the IRS 501(c)3 ruling.

I don't know about you, but I find this very exciting. On so many occasions, especially when the WVU students are packing up to leave town, I've seen many, many useful items being stacked in dumpsters..... needlessly... when someone could probably make good use of that which is being disposed of!

I've also passed many a home the night before trash pick up, and seen all sorts of useful items, headed for the land fill. Wasteful, when someone, somewhere could probably use these items.

While browsing through the different FREECYCLE groups, I noticed there are several in the state of WV, but not one located in Morgantown, so I wrote to them inquiring about starting a group here. The WV coordinator tells me they've got someone interested, but if she doesn't get back to them in the coming day or two, I'll probably be given the task of starting and overseeing the group. Just in case..... anyone interested in helping monitor the postings, please let me know.

Supporting Citizens who choose to Walk, Bike, Bus and Carpool for a More Liveable Morgantown, WV

POSITIVE SPIN and Nick Hein

Speaking of freecycling... Many of you may not be aware of a local organization doing wonderful things in our midst. While overseeing the massive collection of donations during the Katrina Relief Drive, I met an interesting fellow named Nick Hein. You may have seen him biking around town. He's an avid believer in alternative and eco-friendly forms of transportation. He's also the founder of POSITIVE SPIN.

What is POSITIVE SPIN all about?

Positive Spin is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote transportation that makes Morgantown a more livable city. We support citizens who choose walking, biking, bus and carpooling to move more people with less tailpipes. We provide bike-repair and traffic safety instruction, recycle donated bikes for charity and education, as well as educating youth about transportation alternatives for a better community.

Positive Spin is located at 2567 University Ave, Suite 6000L. Last fall they were contacted by BOPARC (local parks and rec authority) who will soon be leasing a building on the riverfront and have asked Positive Spin to assist them with their bike rentals.

POSITIVE SPIN is an all-volunteer group that operates entirely from private donations. Please consider making a donation to help support their service and education projects.... and they're always in need of bikes, parts and volunteers. Positive Spin is also a great place for your children to learn about bike safety, bike maintenance and repair, and more. For more information, please visit their website