Senior Meals

We are blessed to see this program thrive as a true community partnership. The school makes available a cook and their kitchen for meal preparation. The Lion’s Club, Presbyterian, Baptist and Assembly of God churches all donate dollars to the sustainability of this project, as do the seniors themselves. The meals are served at the Presbyterian Church twice a week, with some meals being delivered to those unable to attend. We have had anywhere from 10 to 28 seniors in attendance. Our average since we started has been about 19. We look forward to continuing these partnerships into the future for our senior population.

Back to Basics/Preparedness Classes

The Community Connections Center has been hosting a series of classes in the Annex Building starting last summer. A series of classes centered on Growing Healthy and Eating Healthy. BZ Israel educated us on how we are all Toxic Guinea Pigs; The Unsustainability of our Food System; Gardening in a Changing Climate; Seed Starting, Sowing and Saving; Growing Vegetables for Seed and Seed Cleaning. Bill and Janice Berman taught us Raw Foods Preparation, Basic Bread Making, Soy and Nut Milk Recipes and basic Natural Water Treatments for Health. Ruth Davis taught us Simple Herbal Remedies, Jael Regis taught us How to Make Rice Milk and Tomi Stark taught us How to Cook with Home Storage and How to Cook in a Dutch Oven over an Open Fire. Master Canner/Preserver Bonnie Stichart taught us food preservation with a Pressure Canner. Marlece Hart gave a presentation on starting a Gleaners Club in our area. This promptly enabled three different families to stop and ask people with trees of nuts and fruit if they were willing to share. Walnuts, Asian Pears, Apples and Chestnuts were harvested that would have otherwise gone to waste. This year we will be meeting with the Colville Chapter and starting our own Gleaner’s Club in Northport. We have been so excited to have so many community members share their expertise with others. The next classes centered on Basic Preparedness in case of natural disaster. Bob Garrow from Life Preservation Institute in Hunters hosted two classes that had us look at the possible disasters that could affect our area, what their likelihood is and what can we do to prepare. He facilitated a frank discussion about the basic lack of preparedness of most individuals to handle any disaster from an extended power outage to the possibility of one of the many dams above our town failing. He gave us much food for thought. Next in this series will be hosting a Community Meeting with our Town Council to look at our plans or lack of plans in case of disaster. This class along with the others has been attended by 35 to 40 people showing the desire and pertinence of the subjects. Finally, Smokky shared with us the idea of starting an Alternative to Money System, thus enabling many including those without a job to acquire the items and services necessary to survive and thrive. He will be hosting a workshop for further discussion and hands on experience April 10, 2011 at 2 pm. For any further information about upcoming events or to get involved contact Kathy Jones, President of NCPR (509) 732-4061.

Community Connections Center Staying Connected to our Community and World

We have officially been open 4 months. That is hard to believe. It was just yesterday we were gutting the buildings and hauling the stuff to the dump. Since we opened March 1st we have seen a steady increase in usage. In March we had 409 computer usages, in April 510 and in May 794, mid-June was at 546. Total signed up users since the middle of June are 204 with 130 adults and 74 students. We have 15 trained volunteers that help keep the center open 7 days a week. New people are signing up every day. Since opening we have had approximately 30 people take beginning computer classes. Just today a young gal came in to type up a resume, of course there are the kids that are not getting into trouble on the streets because they hang out here, people checking e-mail, watching TV, doing homework, researching, keeping up with the world news, doing their e-bay business, home-based businesses and more. Two ladies from Canada have stopped by and needed to print a receipt in order to cross over the border. Printing income tax returns and the list goes on. What did we do before we had the Community Connections Center?

So what about that second building? Has it been used? Glad you asked. It has held a gun safety class (30 attending), an after school Kid’s club for 3 months (average 8 kids each week), weekly Narcotics Anonymous Meetings (growing from 2 to 8), Growing Healthy/Eating Healthy Workshop (35 in attendance), Food Sustainability and Healthy Eating Workshop (34 in attendance), Rural Resources Medical Insurance Counseling, SCORE Counseling (Retired Business Executive counseling new entrepreneurs), an Artisan and Craftsman organizational meeting (20 attending) and an Artists Unveiling. I would say that covers about A – Z. If you have a use for the building, just call Sandi Everson at (509) 732-8847 or (509) 690-7548.

I think a huge thanks is due again to the USDA, EcliptixNet, and Art and Nina Grobben for this beautiful facility. On the horizon we want to fence the back yard for future events. It is just $50.00 a section which includes a plaque acknowledging your donation posted on the fence. If you want to donate a section of fence contact NCPR (509) 563-4502 and leave a message or call Sandi Everson at the above numbers.

Senior Meals Update

In the first month 146 meals were served to the community of Northport. 34 senior citizens have joined for an average of 18 per meal. The last meal in May had 21. A cook and helper have each been hired for 8 hours a week. We were pursuing funding through Rural Resources but that does not look promising. Funds through the Northport Schools end July 15th. A few members of the community have stepped forward to assist with the funds to keep it going. Comments in the positive have been numerous. "The food is great." "I am so glad we have a place to get together again." These comments were shared at our last Town Council Meeting. One couple had not been out of their house since a stroke and they have not missed a meal yet. Donations have covered the food costs, but not the Cook and Helper. We have a new Northport School Superintendant coming July 2nd. We will be meeting with him shortly after he arrives to see if he is willing to allow us to continue using the school kitchen for food preparation and whether or not funds will be available. If you would like to help fund this worthwhile endeavor you can contact Nina Grobben at 675-5073. Till then...

Update on Senior Meals

Senior meals will begin the last week of April. We will be working with the Northport Schools in providing meals for dinner two days a week. The Vocational Tech Students will be working with the School Lunch Superintendent to prepare meals, deliver to the CE Building at the Presbyterian Church and serve the meals to the senior community on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4:00pm. We received 16 surveys back with an overwhelming "YES!" we need and want meals provided. At this time a donation of $3.00 will be asked for each meal, but no one will be turned away if they cannot afford the donation. We will be meeting with Rural Resources on Monday April 12th to see if they can pick up part of the funding starting in June. We do have a couple of needs if anyone can help. We need a cart that keeps the food warm for transport between the school and the CE Building and disposable containers to put take home meals in. We are hoping on Thursdays to possible send the seniors home with a frozen meal to help cover one more day of the week. And we have a couple of seniors who need meals delivered to their homes as they are housebound. Any volunteers to deliver or donations to help with these other needs are most welcome.

4th Annual Town Cleanup April 17th and 18th

Please come and join us for our 4th Annual Town Cleanup and Beautification. We will be assembling at the Community Connections Center at 9:00am on Saturday. Assignments will be passed out and we will begin collecting around town, then staging and sorting on the lot behind the CCC. We will gather at lunch time for sustenance and hit the streets again after lunch.

Please be saving and/or collecting your cans and batteries. This annual town cleanup effort is the proven true definition of the saying “many hand make light work”.

If you have need of our services or want to volunteer, contact either Nina Grobben at 675-5073 or Ed Nichols at 675-4466. Look forward to gathering and serving together in April.
See you then!

Grand Opening of the Community Connections Center a Huge Success!

Saturday, February 27th dawned a beautiful, sunny winter day. As people began setting up for the day, there were more vendors than space. It was an exciting situation to have. Tables and space were made out front of both buildings where the Schwann’s Truck, Sheriff’s Mobile Command Center, Sheriff’s Expedition and Boat, and the local EMS brought Northport’s new Ambulance and all set up. Med Star, Community Garden, Lazy-Daze Retreats, New Hope Assembly, Seventh Day Adventist, Presbyterian Church, Early Head Start, US Border Patrol, Tri-County Economic Development, SCORE Business Consultant, Rural Resources, Steven’s County Rural Libraries, Northport Medical Clinic, Old Dog Computer Tutoring, Shoshanna Pottery, American Legion, NEW Alliance Counseling Drug Prevention, WSU, Merle Door and Windows, Bushhock Distributing, Sister’s Second Hand, Northern Ales Brewery, Kuk’s Tavern, SMOSS Outdoor Survival School, Eagles Wings Jujitsu, Northport Schools Homelink Program, Custom Home Organization, VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), Northport’s Historical Society, Northport Hardware, and I may have missed a few. Stedy’s coffee, locally produced, provided coffee for all of the guests, Margaret Phillips made a beautiful cake for all to enjoy and Klaus Peters donated his locally grown and produced wine. What a fantastic cross-section of our community!

Opening ceremonies were performed by Jeff Tamietti of EcliptixNet and Mario Villanueva USDA Rural Development Director. Mario Villanueva read a letter from US Representative Cathy McMorris-Rodgers and presented it to Cindy Knapp president of NCPR. Well over 200 people turned out for the festivities. People seemed to truly enjoy themselves and stayed to visit till past our scheduled closing. Overall the buzz is it was a huge success. Thank you to all our community, businesses, organizations, churches and emergency support services for making the opening of the center such a success.

Northport Community Garden is Coming Soon!

Spring Fever is in the air! If you doubt it you should have attended the Herb Class at WSU on Thursday, March 5th. The Rendezvous Theater had about 75 eager gardeners listening to Al Kowitz share his passion and expertise for growing and cooking with herbs. Well onto the Community Garden Project.

We are in the planning stages of developing a community garden and greenhouse for Northport. Several people have been spending time brainstorming to make this a reality. Wendy Lantzy has stepped forward to take the lead on this project that was birthed out of the Horizon Grant. Last year the ground was prepared, organic matter added to the soil and some raised beds started, but no one was available to take charge of the project until now. Thanks, Wendy!

Rebecca Middlesworth started writing a grant to fund the startup costs of fencing, a drip irrigation system and green house. Community members Kamiah Goodwin, Sandra Everson, Art and Nina Grobben and Rebecca Middlesworth met to discuss some of the particulars. The location for the Community Garden has been donated by Art and Nina Grobben. The property is located on Main Street next to Buck Jennings, CPA. The location is ideal for access to marketing, proximity to school and community members to use.

Our goal is to link with the school for mentoring via the JR/SR projects and/or perhaps an elective class. The goal of the greenhouse is to give students an opportunity to raise starts for sale in the spring and perhaps to provide fresh greens all winter to local community members and businesses. Space may be made available at a small fee (to cover the costs of heating and water) to interested community members who wish to grow their own fresh greens or garden starts.

If you are interested in participating in gardening, mentoring, weeding, building a fence or setting up an irrigation system, etc. please contact Wendy Lantzy at
732-4249 or Nina Grobben at 732-0443.

Northport Community Preservation and Restoration Introduction Letter

February 20, 2009


Hello,

We would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves. Northport Community Preservation and Restoration (NCPR) was created in May of 2008 through the commitment and perseverance of a group of community members. As NCPR we are committed to:

• Building relationships and partnerships between Town Council, Northport Schools and existing groups in our community and other communities to educate, improve infrastructure and our economy.
• Focus on community leadership, identifying and developing the activities of citizens to strengthen and move our community forward.
• Build a foundation of success under the youth that they would not continue in the cycle of poverty of previous generations.

Our mission statement is to “Empower the community with leadership skills, to enhance the quality of life and sustain a healthy community”. At this time we have partnered with:

• The Town of Northport on a RCO Boat Launch/Facilities improvement grant. It was applied for in 2008, awarded in November and will begin construction in the summer of 2009.
• The Northport School District to host a community informational meeting on the School Levy.
• The Northport Chamber of Commerce in building a website (www.northportwa.us) to promote the town, area and businesses of Northport.
• Ecliptixnet/USDA to bring high speed Internet to Northport along with a community center.
• The Northport Chamber of Commerce, Men of Valor Ranch and the Northport Community to host an annual town cleanup and beautification, which is going into its third year.
• Men of Valor Ranch for graffiti removal on the Frazier’s Mill Building

Our goals for the future are:

• To establish relationships with the existing organizations in town in order to assist in furthering the sustainability of our community.
• We are awaiting the finalization of our 501C3 status from the IRS in order to be a conduit to funnel funds to educate and improve infrastructure in our community.
• Addressing the needs from the Senior Surveys, including helping to establish transportation to Colville/Spokane.
• Work with AmeriCorp/Vista to establish a mentoring program for the youth working in the following areas: community garden, recycling center, and fire department.
• Continue to seek partnerships to expand on the USDA Community Center footprint to include the Steven’s County Rural Library, Community Colleges of Spokane, Bethel Youth/Senior Center, Business Incubator with TED and more.
• The continuation of P.A. Jarre Jarret’s goal of educating the community on health related issues such as obesity, diabetes, drugs and alcohol.

We welcome your input, concerns, suggestions and involvement. Community members are welcome to attend our meetings, which are held the Thursday following the monthly City Council meetings. We meet at City Hall in the American Legion/Volunteer Fire Dept. room at 9:30 am. Please let us know how we can assist you as we all move forward to see Northport become a healthy and thriving community.

Respectfully Submitted,


Northport Community Preservation and Restoration (NCPR)

NCPR Board and members: Gary Jones, Art Grobben, Rebecca Middlesworth, Nina Grobben, Cindy Knapp, Sandi Everson, Kathy Jones, John Corcoran and Ed Nichols

Northport Community Preservation and Restoration
P.O. Box 967 * Northport, WA 99157

www.northportcpr.org

WSU Students in Northport

Ten Washington State University students presented an assembly to all the High School students on April 21. The spoke about going to college and how to make it happen. They talked about admissions, financial aid, and opportunities to take advatage of while in college. High School students were able to interact with and ask questions of the WSU students. Several students came up after the assembly to ask questions personal questions. This opportunity to interact with WSU students made college seem more real and possible.

Grant Writing Workshop

Wow! Over 30 people attended the two-day Grant Writing Workshop held in February at the school. We now have a whole group of potential grant writers just waiting for a grant to write. Do you have any ideas?

We have built capacity among our citizens to seek funding for projects that will reduce poverty.