Create Huntington - The Community in Action!

REMINDER: The next Create Huntington Chat 'n Chew is scheduled for this Thursday, February 26th from 5:30 - 7:00 pm in the lobby of the Frederick Building. Chat 'n Chews are always free and open to the public. Food service is available at 21 at the Frederick. As you probably know, Chat 'n Chews are a time when people who want to make Huntington better can meet to brainstorm, come up with creative solutions, and begin to take action. Please feel free to share this email with friends and others you feel may be interested. Please also post this to your Facebook and MySpace page, if you have one.

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At this meeting, we expect to have groups on-hand to discuss:

Several downtown art projects, including:

* The team that is working on using temporary gallery space in downtown businesses
* The Reflections Gallery project team (see http://www.blogger.com/www.reflectionsgallery.org <file://www.reflectionsgallery.org/> ) for info.

Another group has formed to create a website that specifically targets people who are thinking about moving to Huntington. Based on a similar site in Charleston, it seeks to provide positive, useful information to potential new residents and to help position our City as a great place to work and live. They are seeking volunteers to:
* Help write content for the site
* Assist with a promotional plan

Urban gardening - We’ve seen a lot of interest and energy here. Currently, there is a team working to restore the Veteran’s Memorial on 3rd Ave and Veteran’s Memorial Blvd. They need volunteers to help with:
* Purchasing and planting rose bushes
* Purchasing and installing flag poles
* Acquiring flags for each of the branches of the military
* Purchasing and installing lighting
* Upkeep of the area once it’s completed

The area also has groups interested in community gardens, urban forestry, and a host of other gardening and beautification projects. There may be a discussion about developing a garden space/beautification effort along Hal Greer Blvd, as part of the community's new Weed and Seed program.

Creating a destination - We’ve been asked by the Mayor’s office to brainstorm ideas that would create a destination in Huntington. The genesis for this resulted from a conversation about Chattanooga acquiring the Delta Queen to be a boutique hotel. We want to investigate concepts (hotels, museums, parks, galleries, or something else) that could become a destination spot and an anchor for the community. Though several expressed interest, we didn't get a chance to work on this last week. Please join us to begin working on this initiative.

Let your voice be heard This is actually less project than initiative. One of our Chat 'n Chew regulars brought to my attention that there are many great things happening in the area. Many of these items are covered in the media. We're encouraged to take a minute when we see a story about what's going on, and write a letter to the editor or go to the media company's website, and post a positive comment on their blog. There are many negative voices in the community. It's our responsibility to let the positive voices be heard, too.

Other projects that have been discussed at recent meetings and may come up tomorrow include:
* the WV 5K
* Recycling
* preparing for Cabell County's 200th Anniversary
* establishing clean-up teams for major thoroughfares
* hip hop as a community and economic development tool
* promoting a community events calendar,
* looking at new options for schooling.

Please bring your ideas, input, and energy to the meeting. If you have a particular topic in mind and would like to encourage others who might be interested to meet you at the meeting, please send me an email by tomorrow morning and I will forward your interests to the group. There will be a sign-up board in the lobby when you arrive. Feel free to list your project or idea on the board so that others will know your interest and can begin helping you.

(This up-date was sent to me via email by Create Huntington member, Thomas McChesney.)