civilian BLOG

“A publication seeking to explore and expose the creative subtext that provides vital fuel, (inspiration) for our professions and community.”

I would like to start a publication for the community in and around Frenchtown. Our population has many incredibly talented people. Many of these people make a living with their talent. Many more of us have professions or businesses that have the SUBTEXT of that talent/skill/passion fueling the way our money is made or the way we would rather make our living. We are artists & activitists, musicians & actors, farmers & lawyers, writers & designers, engineers & architects, gardeners & doctors & teachers & homeopaths, carpenters & politicians, and on & on….This publication would be a compilation of articles and images written and created by the professionals who want to write/photograph/advertise their event/business/talent or just employ the muse. There are a bunch of blogs and websites for our community, yet nothing to really hold in one’s hand, and have coffee with, or take back home. To actually FEEL our home. I think this publication can serve to ground us – bring us together. Also create a voice for visitors to get to know us easier.I just don’t think the DelVal News has the capacity to represent the diversity of this community, nor the desire to impliment change as far as living locally – buying locally – growing locally – eating locally – supporting each other and knowing how to do that. I think this could make all of the difference in the ever-present struggle to maintain a sense of community and defining our presence within this world.So, really, I am just “musing” a little myself, here. So that I can begin to make this project become alive. If you have any ideas of desire to help me begin, let’s start talking!!

THE inspiration…

When Barry & I went across country last Spring, we stopped in a town in Colorado. It was in a valley – was probably a miner’s town – and had a river or two that crisscrossed throughout and around. It was relatively vital, had a lot of interesting stores, and seemed to have a lot of history and community. I knew this because I picked up a little publication that was very modest, very homemade, in the luncheonette where we ate breakfast. It was put together by the cook/owner. It was filled with local stories, some ideas, a little bit of art/music/community and business all rolled up together. It was named after the luncheonette. (Wish I can remember the name the of the town & restaurant, but we drove through so many places, it has become a blur.) But the impact remained. I was intrigued with the place, becoming envious of the community and how connected they all seemed. We stayed longer than we planned and really did not want to leave. Without that publication I would have had no inside info into the spirit of the town.Because I was coming back home to open “CIVILIAN”, it became one of the memorable “good & fun business” ideas that followed me back home. I wanted to put together a little publication that mimicked the one in Colorado, combined with the memory of “CREO” – do any of you remember the little publication of about 6 issues, that Jane Nash, Chuck Yax and I put together? – and call it the “Frenchtown Civilian”So, with the reality that good energy, creativity, intelligence and activism can change the world – change OUR world, help me begin. My thought is that it can be funded by the people who publish in it. We can easily print it up to 11×17 – newsprint – BW. I have only the thought created thus far… so any ideas are really so, so welcome.val