NEW THOUGHTS, ADDITIONAL DIRECTION, SAME INFO

Hello!! I want to take this blog in a new direction. I am going to try to BLOG more often. And make this blog more informational for all things COMMUNITY. There will still be things about GSCC, Urban Gardening and Farming, Bee Keeping, and other thoughts and information.

And Here it begins.......

 I have been thinking about a lot of things lately. Two weeks in a row parts of the city of Detroit has had some type of infrastructure malfunction. First the boil water alert and then the power outages do to high winds. The boil water alert was for three days and the power outages for some four days and counting........And we were not prepared!!! Not as a community by any means. I have not seen any politicians (Detroit City Government) come out and make a statement other than the normal emails about using generators safely and opening up warming centers. Have they forgotten this is an election year? I will be reminding everyone of this come election day.

It takes a village!!!! We need emergency preparedness. I want to start with our own warming centers and power stations. A house or two, a church, a building that can have solar and wind power for disasters, yes disasters, food and water. A place when its cold to come and get warm without having to leave their neighborhood. These places can also be used as community centers to help inform whats going on all the time. Of course this will take money. It can also be a way to kick start some needed revitalization in neighborhoods.

It's time for us to come together Detroit! Get prepared for anything that comes up. Get involved in the community so you can be informed. Trust me I know its not easy.....but be the better neighbor. Show the knuckleheads how it should be done. Get to know your neighbor(s). Again I know its not easy. We've become so secluded in our homes and you cant let just anyone in but that's the reason we need community centers and spaces. Start a community garden or block club, or get involved in the block club that's already formed. We can do this!!! We are Detroiters!!!

Hopefully as I get more into this there will be some order and not much rambling, so please be patient with me.

Thank You For Reading And Come Back Often!!!

Love To Everyone,

Mark "Cub" Covington

Superbowl Party Fundraiser

GSCC's 8th Annual Superbowl Party Fundraiser and it's Mark's Birthday!!! Sunday February 7th Doors open at 6pm. $5.00 Donation FREE Nacho/Taco Bar and more. 8902 Vinton Detroit, MI 48213

NEW WINDOWS AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER

Georgia Street Community Collective's 6th Annual Super Bowl Party!!!

Georgia Street Community Collective's 6th annual Super Bowl Party!!!
Sunday February 2nd 2014

$5 Free Food!!! Menu will Include:

Chili
Fried Chicken
Nachos And Cheese
Pizza Egg Rolls
Cookies ...
Cakes
Pop
Water And More

6pm
8902 Vinton Detroit, MI 48213 at the corner of Georgia St

NO SHOWS on install dates from contractors who are GETTING PAID to do the work

I want to be as professional as possible. Don’t want to come off as being bitter. When you have a non-profit organization and it depends on donations to function we can’t have people or corporations not following through on pledges.

NO SHOWS on install dates from contractors who are GETTING PAID to do the work.

Example:  I was WXYZ’s Person Of The Week in July. They asked if I wanted something done right away what would it be. I said windows on the community center to make it look more inviting and professional. The same night it aired we got a call asking if we had anybody willing to donate for the windows. An amount was pledged and also a company that could do the work. An appointment for measurements was scheduled and kept. An install date (2 and ½ weeks) was scheduled. NO WINDOWS. After calls from me to company, another meeting was scheduled. New install date October 9^th 2013. Came and passed NO WINDOWS. Phone calls and emails have gone unanswered. We had some funds to go towards the windows from other donors and this information was told to the first donor reducing her pledged amount. What are Non-Profits to do in a situation like this?

 

Mark CUB Covington

GSCC

Founder/Chairman

GSCC'S 5TH ANNUAL FREE COAT GIVEAWAY

We are collecting New and Gently Used Coats, Scarves, Hats, and Gloves of all sizes for our 5th annual coat giveaway. It will be held November 9th, 2013. Items can be dropped off at 8902 Vinton
Detroit, MI 48213. We are also accepting Cash Donations to purchase items. Checks or Money Orders can be sent to the above address and made out to GSCC. Or we accept PAYPAL on the right of this page.

Thank You In Advance
Mark (CUB)

New Editions To The Community Center Farm

The ducks: Three Malards and two Jumbo Pekins.
Cozy our male goat was attacked by two female pitbulls on January 4th, 2012 but survived eleven days before passing away. He got Comfy pregnant in September and in March she had a baby boy Cozy Jr.

Help GSCC Build A Race Car Track While Cleaning Up Blight

From DetroitLives!

I am really excited to announce a huge project we are undertaking with the folks at the Goergia Street Community Garden. The basics: With all proceeds from the screening of After the Factory on March 22 at the Main Art Theatre in Royal Oak, we are initiating a neighborhood project on a vacant lot at the Georgia Street Community Garden. We want to use the film as a tool to create real growth and to go beyond just talking about the good things happening. We want it to be a crucial part of the movement, too.

So, a neighborhood project? We are building a remote control race car track. There I said it. I couldn’t help it. But wait, a remote control race car track? Let me explain.

The idea is to create an attraction, something that kids are curious about and want to take part in. After all, there are no remote control race car tracks in the city of Detroit, so it will also be something very unique to them and their neighborhood. Once the track is constructed, kids will have a variety of ways in which they can earn car time– they can volunteer in the GSCC media center, they could help tutor a fellow neighbor with their math homework, they could volunteer with Mark in the garden, take part in the up and coming youth garden market, or a variety of other things. But the point is this: once they have put a little work in, they are rewarded with some good old fashioned fun at the track where they can race cars and have a good time on space that was previously derelict. But it goes significantly further than that. With enough interest we can run classes that show kids how to build their own car, and perhaps some become interested in circuitry, engineering or product design. Then the universities step in to help make that vision possible with some partial or full scholarships. But here’s the main point: we’re taking dirt, a vacant lot, some extra materials and creating a very unique form of community engagement that is easily scaled up and emulated by others.

So! Who is WE? Well, obviously Mark Covington and the folks in the vicinity of Georgia Street Community Garden, then us here at DETROIT LIVES! and the film, but we’re looping in Patrick Thompson from Patrick Thompson Design to help really steer an innovative design process that involves kids and neighbors at the front end of designing this thing (learn about Patrick in a recent short film we did on him here).

Last item: We really need your help. Please buy your tickets for the screening on March 22 and support this endeavor. The more people that come, the closer we get to reaching our mark of raising at least $3,000 for this effort. If you cannot come to the screening, please tell your friends to come through Facebook and Twitter. So, get ready, we think this is going to be a really exciting forward movement for the folks on Georgia Street, but hopefully pave the way to creatively thinking about some new forms of neighborhood engagement. Onward.

Copy and paste the link to buy a ticket or two or three!!!
https://tickets.landmarktheatres.com/Ticketing.aspx?TheatreID=232&MovieID=13398&ShowDate=3/22/2012&ScheduleID=34063

4th Annual GSCC Easter Egg Hunt and Brunch With The Easter Bunny

Hoppity, Hoppity, Hoppity, Hop!!!!!

Here he comes again. The Easter Bunny is back at the Georgia Street Community Center!!!!!!!

Saturday April 7, 2012

12:00pm to 3:00pm

Easter Egg hunt Starts At 12:15pm Sharp


Easter Egg Hunt, Brunch , Goody Bag, and a Picture!!!

$6.00 per child

$8.00 per adult (meal and picture)

Plus Special Prizes

Brunch Includes

Pancakes
Sausage
Juice

Bring A Basket Or A Bag

TV Spot For PBS

Data Driven Detroit - DPTV Spot 4 from datadrivendetroit on Vimeo.

Information On Winter Emergency Preparedness

GSCC is partnering with Wayne State University on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day to Give information on Winter Emergency Preparedness. Refreshments and a Movie (Captain America). Monday January 16, 2012 from 10am to 1pm 8902 Vinton St at the corner of Georgia St.

4th ANNUAL HOLIDAY DINNER

Planning has begun for the



4th Annual Holiday Dinner



Saturday, December 17, 2011

Serving from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.



At the

Georgia Street Community Center

8902 Vinton Street, Detroit, Michigan 48213



Menu Includes:

Turkey, Dressing, Gravy - Ham

Potatoes, Yams, Hot Vegetables

Rolls & Butter

Lots of Desserts

Hot and Cold Beverages



Donations are needed to be able to feed the needy families.

Each year there are more and more families in need.



We would be grateful for any donation, including:

Any food item (you cook it, or we will)

Paper Products (plates, bowls, cups, plasticware)

Beverages (pop, coffee, bottled water, kool-aid)



Volunteers are also needed to help prepare, serve

and clean-up the day of the dinner.

Please contact either Mark 313-452-0684 or Phyllis 586-915-8946

to donate items or volunteer.



Donations by check or money order can be mailed to

GSCC

8902 Vinton

Detroit, Michigan 48213

or through Paypal by clicking the button at the top left of our blog:

Mark Cub Covington on Heart Of Detroit On Channel 4 WDIV

http://www.clickondetroit.com/heart-of-detroit/29604504/detail.html

FOOD GIVEAWAY FUNDRAISER

NOW TILL NOVEMBER 1, 2011

The GSCC is partnering with BOSS Inc Social Club to raise money for a food giveaway. Two Semi Trucks (62,000 pds) of food for Thanksgiving.
We Need Your Help. The cost for the trucks is $2600.00. Any amount will help. GSCC Is a registered 501(c)3 Charitable Organization and your donation is tax deductible. Send Donations to GSCC 9352 Georgia St Detroit, MI 48213 or click the paypal button. Thank You So Much.

Mark/Cub

Youth Market Garden

Next Year We Plan To Have A Youth Market Garden. The Lots Across The Street From The Community Center Will Be Prepped This Friday And Saturday With Lasagna Beds And Some Tilled Rows. Our Plan Is To Encourage More Of The Older Youth To Get Involved.

Mark/Cub

Free Food Preservation Workshop

Thursday September 8,2011
6 to 8pm

Free Workshop!
Food Preservation: Freezing 8 Drying
Georgia Street Community Center
8902 Vinton St.
Detroit MI48213

Brought to you by MSUExtension of Wayne County and
Georgia Street Community Collective
Presented by Eileen Haraminac, Food Safety Extension Educator

Learn How to save all that summer produce safely and save food dollars at the same time. Safe methods for drying and freezing foods will be taught along with a "dilly bean" recipe.

This workshop is free, but please register by calling MegMarotte at
(313) 309-1685 so we can be sure to have enough supplies for all.

Georgia Street Summer Garden Club

Hands On Learning For Ages 8 And Up!!!



www.georgiastreetcc.com
www.georgiastreetgarden.blogspot.com

Georgia Street Community Garden Partners with MSU Extension to Start Summer Garden Club

Detroit, MI-- June 21, 2011—Georgia Street Community Collective is starting its first ever summer garden club with the help of MSU Extension in Wayne County. The club will provide hands on learning activities and field trip opportunities for students attending summer school or any children 8 years and up interested in gardening activities.

Garden club members will get to grow vegetables and plant a butterfly garden, they will be trained in how to cook and eat from the garden, and attend an exciting lecture series of pollinating creatures such as bats, bees, butterflies, and other bugs. Active garden club members will go on field trips to visit other Detroit gardens, Eastern Market, and participate in a day trip to Michigan State University campus. Dedicated garden club members will take part in a public performance in front of a live audience.

The garden club will meet every Wednesday and Friday from 12:45pm to 4:00pm between June 29th and August 19th at Georgia Street Community Center on the corner of Vinton and Georgia streets. The registration fee is $20 which includes the price of field trips, snacks, one Georgia Street Community Collective t-shirt, and the entire lecture series. Scholarships and family discounts are available upon request.

Georgia Street Community Collective was founded by Mark Covington, a resident of the neighborhood near Harper and Gratiot where the gardens are located. The gardens currently consist of five lots, including a fruit orchard, greenhouse, and children’s park. The community center hosts a multitude of events and activities year round and is working toward expanding into a library and computer center.

For more information contact:

Meg Marotte, Community Gardening Associate
MSUE Wayne County
(313) 309-1685
Or
Mark Covington
313-452-0684
www.cub5578@yahoo.com
www.georgiastreetgarden.blogspot.com

Made It to The Top Ten

Vote For Me At

http://energizerkeepgoinghalloffame.com/Finalists.aspx?finalists=MarkCovington&t=thmbMarkCovington.jpg&fn=Mark&ln=Covington&r=634383869957557989

Vote Everyday , Once A Day Till May 13Th

DUST

This is a link to a program that I think will benefit the city as a whole!!!


http://detroiturbansustainabilitytraining.org/

Fundraiser For The Furnace And Ductwork In The Community Center