We’re in the midst of planning the years events, both big and small, and want to hear what you think. We’ll be putting on projects just like we have in the past, planting gardens, cleaning neighborhoods, and a few things in between. The difference is, this year we’ll be putting on a handful of smaller, more impromptu events where we have one idea and one task. Clean a park for the morning, tidy the pedestrian mall, handout some care packs to those who might need them, and whatever other random acts of kindness we can come up with.

If you have thoughts for an event, either big or small, please let us know. Comment here or visit our Contact page and let us know your thoughts. We’re looking forward to a productive year rubbing elbows with all of you.

What are the needs of our communities? What do you see that needs to be done, not just to make our surroundings more beautiful, but to foster good relationships with our neighbors?

These can be simple things: a party, a flash clean-up, you come up with something and begin the conversation!

(don’t worry, the Hawks have a bye that week.)

We had around 30 volunteers show up that took roughly a ton of trash and three large loads and two small loads of branches and brush out to make room for the garden. We were also able to use the community tool shed provided the Board of Realtors.

All in all, it was a very enjoyable day of work and we accomplished a lot. Click here to see a few pictures of the work that was done.

We have just helped get the ball rolling for this neighborhood, but like any garden, the work is never done. If you’re interested in supporting this community garden, please visit our Contact page and let us know what you’re willing to do.

“Everyone agrees something has to be done,” Grassley said in a lecture hall at UI’s Medical Education Research Facility. “However, Congress has spent a year writing bills that would make a bad situation worse.

Although the White House has said it aims to have the legislation wrapped up by March 18, Grassley said there is still time for the two parties to meet on middle ground and build from there. With widespread support on both sides of the aisle for reform that would make insurance companies offer more affordable and accessible coverage, as well as stop denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, Grassley said there are common goals to build upon.

What are your thoughts?

via press-citizen.

A Solon farm, an Iowa City restaurant and an Iowa City nonprofit were among the winners of the Edible Iowa River Valley magazine’s third Local Hero Awards.

Readers nominate the people they think are Iowa’s Local Heroes in five different categories.

Susan Jutz of ZJ Farms in Solon was named Best Farm/Farmer. Jutz operates a community-supported agriculture venture called Local Harvest.

Iowa City nonprofit Local Foods Connection won the Local Hero Award for the second time this year. Founded in 1999, Local Foods Connection is a charity that recruits volunteers to help on CSA farms and collects shares from those farms to distribute to families who cannot afford them.

The Best Chef/Restaurant award went to Masae Judge and Harriet Woodford for Leaf Kitchen in Iowa City. Leaf Kitchen is the first Iowa City restaurant to be named a local restaurant hero by the magazine.

Give us your thoughts. What would you like to see done in Iowa City? What do you think would be a good way to bring people out of their homes and working together with their neighbors? What can be done in your community that will add to the beauty?

Click here for morning registration.

Click here for afternoon registration.

We’ve had many verbal commitments to help Public Space 1 this upcoming Saturday, but we wanted to send a final email to remind you to sign-up through the website so we can best plan accordingly: www.reclaimingroots.org.  Because PS1 has limited space, we’re splitting up the day:

Current Sponsors:

Vrban Fire Protection

Solutions Insurance

Café del Sol

Public Space 1

The James Gang

When: January 24, 2009 9am-12pm & 1pm-4pm

Where: Public Space 1 115 E Washington St. Iowa City

Purpose: Help the folks at Public Space 1 and the James Gang improve the space for creativity and community.

Registration: Click here to register! We will have two opportunities to volunteer on January 24.  Due to a lack of space at Public Space 1, we have split the registration into two 25 volunteer groups. One group at 9am-12pm and another from 1pm-4pm.  Both groups will be capped at 25 people each, so we urge you to sign up for your desired shift as soon as possible. We would like to stress that if you are unable to work this day but still interested in helping to please consider giving financially to Public Space 1. Do so by clicking here.

Sponsors: If you are interested in making this happen via sponsorship, please email luke@reclaimingroots.org. 

Web Questions: If you have any web questions or problems, please email our web genius chris@reclaimingroots.org

Public Space 1 (PS1) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run art, culture and performance venue in downtown Iowa City. PS1 is sponsored and supported by the James Gang, providing opportunities for local visual and performance artists to “go public” with their talents. They provide a venue for people to practice, perfect, and perform their creative endeavors including theater, photography, art, writing, and performance. The space provides a location for community discussions, gatherings, interactions, and dialogues. {reclaiming roots} is always interested in bringing people together, to help out for the greater good of the community, especially in the context of pursuing creativity. This is certainly a cause that will continue to cultivate the culture of our community, and support local performers and artists.

On January 24, 2009, {reclaiming roots} is going to facilitate a work day to help create a gallery space for the visual arts, and renovate a currently un-usable space into a gallery. The focus will be on painting, drywall, cleaning, and other renovation work. If you have specific carpentry skills, please email us directly at stan@reclaimingroots.org and zach@thejamesgang.ws.

If you’ll be unable to help on this date but want to help cover specific materials/project costs, you can contribute directly to Public Space 1 and James Gang at http://www.firstgiving.com/psone. There is a donor that wants to match 50% of every financial gift toward this project!

Lastly, other PS1 information can be found at their website:www.thejamesgang.ws/psone