AUGUST 2013

PATIENCE AND SPACE 8/26/2013

"There is a great paradox in the reality of what people surviving the street require in terms of timing.

The urgency of our goodness and concern is vital. But the patience and space required when and if we show up is no less vital, and in most cases is the game-changer.

It is why I can never subscribe to appeasing funders driven by numbers-served, or mollifying impatient volunteers with personal agendas, or entertaining church groups worried that every bag lunch they bring gets distributed within a certain timeframe. It’s all a matter of great sensitivity and thoughtfulness.

Relief work is no substitute for grace, and is only and always radically short-changed without it."

-Tim Huff, Street Level Network

SUE'S LEGACY 8/24/2013

It's been a year since we lost a dear friend and Green Wood co-conspirator, Sue Johnston. There are many times that we have missed her humour, strength and inspiration. Reflecting on some of the lessons that Sue taught us, recently-retired Green Wood board member, Crystal Cranch wrote the following poem. We present it here as tribute to Sue and a reminder of her legacy.

KENTUCKY BBQ 'SWINGS' INTO PORT HOPE 8/11/2013

Does the thought of Kentucky BBQ on a summer's day make you salivate? Do you love to golf? The latest in a series of community-initiated summer fundraisers in benefit of Green Wood Coalition will be next Sunday's 'Greens & Woods Charity Golf Tournament', with a mouth-watering Southern-style spread as a main feature. This event promises to be beautiful, fun and very, very delicious.

The 'best ball' tournament gets underway at noon with a shotgun start at 1:00 PM on the gorgeous, rolling greens of Port Hope Golf & Country Club, and includes prizes, Southern-style drinks and a memorable culinary experience.

There is still time to register your foursome or duo ($150 per person), or to reserve a spot at the BBQ only (that part is just $50 per person).Email greenswoodstourney@gmail.com or call Amelia at 416-455-2858. You won't want to miss this one!

SHARED ART PROJECT 8/10/2013

Our Creative Arts Group and assorted volunteers enjoyed a great day of sharing the creative experience with visitors to today's Arts Festival in Port Hope's Memorial Park. Inspired by the tradition of Tibetan prayer flags, we encouraged people to write or draw prayers, wishes, memorial notes, poems, or quotes onto hand-dyed flags, then attach them to our community art installation. It was a wonderful, often touching, experience for everyone involved. The art piece that we assembled will be installed at our community garden on Peter St., in Port Hope (across from The Tower Hotel). Many thanks to all who helped to make this project such a memorable event.

JULY 2013

GREENS & WOODS GOLF TOURNEY

7/29/2013

This is promising to be the fun event of the summer (and it's a benefit for Green Wood Coalition). A special add-on is the dinner-only option for non-golfers. $50 will get you an amazing southern BBQ meal with drinks and fun times. Contact today to ensure your spot.

COLOURS TO DYE FOR

7/25/2013

Our weekly Creative Arts Group was in the shade of our backyard today, messing with fabric dyes, making fabulous tie-dye magic like this. The Thursday group is always a great exercise in letting go of other (usually more difficult) parts of life to focus on something positive. Be sure to drop by Harden & Huyse Cafe in Cobourg to see the exhibition of the group's work that's on display until the end of July.

SWEET SUMMER EVE

7/22/2013

Friday, July 26 at 7:00 PM

111 Elgin Street, Port Hope, ON

This backyard musical summer evening will feature a pair of the sweetest voices to be found anywhere! Ellen Torrie and Elizabeth Barlow will offer their gift of song in benefit of Green Wood Coalition's work among people who struggle with poverty. Admission by donation.

Ellen and Elizabeth have been working together musically for 6 years, starting in St. Mark's choir in Port Hope. Since then, they have taken on many musical roles in one another's lives, performing together in concerts, churches, busking gigs, and more.

"We are so excited to be able to have this opportunity to use music (the thing we lovemostl) to support a wonderful organization that's a vital part of the community they serve."

Ellen Torrie, a life-long Cobourg, ON resident attends CDCI East. She'is involved in many musical theatre productions in the community such as Annie (2011) and Peter Pan (2013). The Junior Choir director at St. Mark's Anglican Church in Port Hope, she' has also recently taken to busking, as well as singing with local bands such as Summerhouse and The Road Kings.

Elizabeth Barlow lives in Grafton, ON and is well known to local audiences through a variety of traditional folk performances with Celtic harp, fiddle, dulcimer and vocals. She's held lead musical roles in two churches, and is responsible for keeping the tradition of Sacred Harp Singing alive in this area.

RSVP to greenwoodcoalition@gmail.com if you can, and bring along a lawn chair.

TO MARKET

7/15/2013

We were invited to participate in the Port Hope Farmer's Market. Thanks to the great musicians who joined us, as well as to everyone who dropped by to meet us.

JULY 14th, 2013

7/14/2013

"The Northumberland Charity Golf Tournament organized by the Port Hope Knights of Columbus saw 75 golfers brave plenty of rain to finish their 18 holes at Ashbrooke Golf Course on June 22. During the event a hockey jersey donated by Shane O'Brien of the Colorado Avalanche was raffled off. The tournament raised $7,200 to be split evenly between the Northumberland Hills Hospital Palliative Care Unit and the Green Wood Coalition. This was the second annual fundraising tournament hosted by the K of C. Last year's raised $7,000 for the window restoration project of Our Lady of Mercy Roman Catholic Church in Port Hope. Pictured are (from left) David Sheffield of Green Wood Coalition, Ross Fraser and Hugh Penney of the Port Hope Knights of Columbus, and Adrienne Barrie of the Northumberland Hills Hospital."

-Northumberland News

BACKYARD BENEFIT CONCERT UPCOMING

11/7/2013

Cobourg Singer/Songwriter, Ellen Torrie joined David Sheffield at the local radio station to talk about Green Wood Coalition and the upcoming concert she'll be performing at with Elizabeth Ann Barlow. It's a fundraising concert that's being organized to benefit Green Wood, on Friday, July 26 at 7 PM, in the backyard of 111 Elgin St., Port Hope. The radio piece, including a beautiful, new song will air next week.

JUNE 2013

HEALTHY PARTNERSHIP

6/27/2013

We celebrated the Port Hope Community Health Centre's 5th anniversary today. The great sense of cooperation that we have shared over those years has meant that a whole bunch of people are getting proper health care. Some who had not had medical attention in 20 years!

(L-R Janet Marchand, David Sheffield, Pam MacDougall).

SOLSTICE GARDEN BLESSING 6/21/2013

On the longest day of the year, our community gathered at our community garden for our second annual Solstice Garden Blessing. Thanks to Gareth Veiera, Doug Woods, Darlene Denis and Chris Hill for their part in the evening.On the longest day of the year, our community gathered at our community garden for our second annual Solstice Garden Blessing. Thanks to Gareth Veiera, Doug Woods, Darlene Denis and Chris Hill for their part in the evening.

IMPRESSIONS/EXPRESSIONS 6/13/2013

Opening night of an exhibition of recent work by the Green Wood Creative Arts Group. The show was curated by Cobourg artist, Alice Vander Vennen. In addition to the wonderful art on display, the evening included a performance by Roger Scannura and Laurence Stevenson of Rimo Flamenco.

This show is on view at Harden & Huyse Cafe (201 Division St., Cobourg, ON) until July 31.