community

One week in October - we have had the ups and downs and the ins and outs of community. Affecting the balance was everything from the weather to egos. Cases in point - Art Along The Rogue and the City Council. Aha you would say - you are stretching connections here - and aha I would say. You're right - but it's all about community.

Some say a community is a place where one feels like home. There is a sense of place and a feeling of friendship or comfort. Others say community is where people with like interests and goals mingle and even co-mingle - but this is pg rated so we won't go there because I'm an adult and not exactly pg or pc.

Saturday dawned with cold and rain and the setting up of Art Along The Rogue. In its seventh year the festival is one of the finest and most joyful that grants pass has to offer. It started when Jeff Jones brought the concept to the Chamber of Commerce. The first year the event was held in the Grants Pass high school commons and it went flop like an over ripened tomato at the end of summer.

The next year it was held in one block of H Street - downtown. The street was closed off for two days in the hopes that the added group of people would help the downtown financially. The only problem was the downtown wasn't really sure it wanted the event. We (the committee) struggled with mixed opinions for five years. finally last year we knew we needed to grow and decided to close an additional street. Needing permission from the owners of the businesses on the street we went door to door for approval. We were anything but welcomed. We were yelled at. We were threatened. We were really made to feel unwelcome.

So we decided to have the festival in the park. riverside park to be exact and for the first time we really became Art Aong The Rogue. It was an amazing scene. We added an artisan market. We added food vendors. The park was full of people and everyone was having fun. Of course there were challenges...and we would certainly tweak things here and there - but seeing the huge crowd on Saturday joyfully playing in the park and watching the art and buying wonderful goods and food and listing to great music - well, it doesn't get any better.

And you know what - NOW the downtown wants us back. Our Visitor Bureau is doing a survey. The jury is not back yet. This will be interesting.

In the meantime - the questionable members of the city council - the rabble rousers have been recalled. the mayor has appointed new interim and temporary councilors. our former mayor is creating havoc and trying to deem everything illegal. and yet the interim council is getting things done amicably. without extraneous banter. without egotistical musings. without rancor or malice. and it feels SO good.

There are some who feel the control is by the builders and the bankers and the good old boys and Rotary (of all things)...but look around - who plans events like Art Along The Rogue. Who helps non profits with money, good, and volunteer time. You betcha - the builders the bankers the good old boys and Rotary (of all things). Amazing.

I rest my case.