ISLE OF WIGHT — Rachael Buchanan is brimming with excitement and ideas. She talks like she and the staff of the small brick church outside of Smithfield are going to revolutionize the historic tourism industry – and they just might, if Buchanan has her way.

Buchanan became the executive director at Historic St. Luke’s Church in Isle of Wight on Nov. 25, after a long career as a development director with other nonprofits, including the Red Cross and Planned Parenthood. When she first saw the opening listed this summer, Buchanan thought it was a joke. It was just too perfect of an opportunity, she said at the time. Now, she’s at the helm of one of the oldest churches in America, and she has big ideas about bringing St. Luke’s into the future.

The church has been through three major restoration efforts over the past 120 years and predates many of the area’s major historic landmarks, including Williamsburg and Jamestown. It was used as a stable for soldiers’ horses during the Civil War and has stood since the middle of the 17th century. Despite its history, St. Luke’s is still relatively little-known in the wider world.

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“I’m looking forward to getting it well-known outside of Isle of Wight,” Buchanan said. “It’s Isle of Wight’s jewel, but it’s a national historic site.”

Buchanan talks a mile a minute, reeling off ideas that she hopes will get people as excited about St. Luke’s as she is — and increase donations in the process, because many of her ideas won’t come cheap.

For starters, Buchanan wants to give the site a facelift, updating signage, fences and landscaping to give the church more physical visibility, which Buchanan believes will help in her quest to raise the church’s national profile. As she puts it, “Before I go out and sell it, I want to polish it up.”

Before Buchanan can fire the starting gun on many of her big ideas, she must weather the church’s busiest time of the year – the stretch between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.

Many events are on the schedule, including three Christmas Eve services, and there’s an uptick in donations as people start to get into the giving spirit — not a bad problem for a non-profit to have, but one that will leave Buchanan spending a lot of her holiday writing thank-you notes.

“I don’t envy her honeymoon period,” said Charlotte Klamer, the outgoing executive director.

Buchanan received just four days of on-site training last week before Klamer handed over the keys. “It’s trial by fire. Oh, fun,” Buchanan laughed. “I like a challenge.”

The church will host its annual Christmas Open House on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, which will double as an unofficial welcome for Buchanan – by then, she will have about a week as executive director under her belt.

Klamer said the church shifted from “a sleepy little historic church” in the direction of a functional business during her more than nine years as director.

“What everybody wanted was to make it more competitive in the tourism industry,” Klamer said, noting that Buchanan was chosen to take charge of St. Luke’s in part because of her background in fundraising.

Buchanan plans to seek out corporate partnerships and government grants, which have been a major contributor to the church’s rehabilitation efforts. The church just completed a $500,000 preservation project, financed by a federal grant and a matching contribution from the Smithfield-Luter Foundation.

Buchanan said she also has plenty of grant-writing experience – she wrote her first proposal when she was 11, as a Girl Scout seeking funding for large-print Bibles for her grandfather’s church. She said fundraising is in her blood and her greatest challenge will be learning the ins and outs of preservation.

“It’s a huge responsibility to maintain the integrity of the site,” Buchanan said. “I’m intimidated by what Charlotte’s leaving me, but excitedly so.”

Buchanan’s excitement for the position was also a major reason she was chosen to fill the spot, according to Klamer.

“You could not do this job with all the time and effort it takes if you don’t have the passion,” Klamer said. “You don’t want to turn over your efforts to someone who’s not going to take it and run with it. Rachel’s going to run with it.”

Some of Buchanan’s big ideas include building a separate museum to house the church’s artifacts (an idea previously floated by board members), bettering their digital outreach, marketing the church a “historic wedding destination” for couples who want to step backward in time, and even hosting classic car shows.

“The church was here in the 1960s too. Why not? There’s a lot of places to grow,” she said. “I don’t ever want to leave the history behind, but I want to bring St. Luke’s into the future.”

Murphy can be reached by phone at 757-247-4760.

STREET TALK-In 2009, then New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg made one of the biggest changes Manhattan had ever seen. It had nothing to do with Big Gulps. Bloomberg and his transportation czar Janette Sadik-Khan took a congested section of Times Square and closed it to traffic. They erected barriers, painted the asphalt, added beach chairs and — presto! — the street became a park. 

These and other instant plazas reduced injuries to pedestrians and motorists while they boosted retail receipts. Most importantly, they returned the public realm to the people.

Can the same magic happen in LA? For his first act as new mayor, Eric Garcetti unveiled the “Great Streets Initiative.”  

Of course, LA already has great streets. A few, anyway: Ventura Boulevard is teeming with energy. First Street in Boyle Heights is a real community gathering spot. Abbot Kinney Boulevard — anti-gentrification protests — has become a hipster haven. But greatness doesn’t happen by accident: These places are like stages set with wide sidewalks, tamed traffic and authentic retail so that daily social dramas can happen. 

Then there are the duds. Lincoln Boulevard from Marina del Rey to Santa Monica should be great. Instead it’s a headache of auto-domination, cluttered signage and crummy landscaping. (My mother called it “Stinkin’ Lincoln.”) 

As LA Times reporter Michael Finnegan noted, Garcetti has created a Great Streets Working Group, in which eight city agencies will collaborate (imagine that!) to create new medians, sidewalk repairs, bus stops, police patrols, bike corrals, business improvement districts and, yes, pocket parks.

“And while we’re at it, let’s add some sculptures and murals,” Garcetti announced at an October transportation conference by the Urban Land Institute, Los Angeles. 

“Their first priority will be to make sure street projects are coordinated. No more Bureau of Street Services paving a street on Monday, DWP digging it up on Tuesday,” said Garcetti. “Let’s also combine a DWP pipe project with some street furniture funds and with a sidewalk repair project all at the same time.” Here’s the video of his speech.  

But this “first priority” is a no-brainer. It doesn’t take an urban visionary to see that departments should work together. 

What would really transform the landscape is a Times Square-like project. Something big and bold. The ideas are already floating out there… some of which Garcetti endorsed as a City Councilman from Hollywood. He could cover L.A.’s sub-surface freeways, such as the 101, and turn them into parks. He could join forces with L.A.’s uber-popular Cyclavia events and revive the dormant bike-share program, such as those successful in Chicago in New York. 

And he could identify the streets at present designed only to flush traffic through town and instead give them a human dimension. These places constitute our meager public spaces. Let’s cede more of them to walkers, to runners, to bikers, to skaters, to moms with strollers. To us. 

When Bloomberg’s transportation chief Janette Sadik-Khan did this, there was opposition, naturally. But, according to Esquire magazine’s profile of “16 Geniuses Who Give Us Hope,” she created plazas in at Madison, Herald and Union Square. “A whole long stretch of Broadway — two hundred thousand square feet, the size of three and a half football fields — is a pedestrian parkland, tables and flowers and sweating tourists resting their eighty-pound Toys ‘R’ Us bags while billboards glint commercially above them.” In her inspiring TED talk, Sadik-Khan sums up these changes.  

Her changes were a huge success. Maybe the best move Garcetti could make is to hire her.

 

(Jack Skelley is an urbanologist and marketing expert … and owner of JSPR. He blogs at HuffingtonPost.com [[hotlink]]] where this column was first posted. More on Skelley here.)  

-cw

 

 

 

 

 

CityWatch

Vol 11 Issue 96

Pub: Nov 29, 2013

 

 

 

CORRECTS THE FIGURES ATTRIBUTED TO CITY COUNCILWOMAN MARSHA MCLEAN 
Santa Clarita residents will have the center of their roundabout landscaped, with a minimalist approach, after two go-rounds of public input, including online surveys, and much discussion of the controversial traffic circle.

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The move sets aside the most recent results of a public outreach effort that called on City Council members to “Do nothing” with the space, which Santa Clarita Mayor Bob Kellar attributed to prior grievances residents had with the roundabout itself.

“I think a lot of those people who chose the ‘do nothing’ option didn’t want a roundabout there,” Kellar said, questioning whether those same residents would still choose that if they knew it meant barren concrete would be the centerpiece.

The sentiment seemed to be echoed by three of his fellow councilmembers, who were unhappy with the survey results for the Newhall roundabout at the intersection Newhall Avenue, Fifth Street and Main Street in Old Town Newhall.

City Councilwoman Marsha McLean had a different takeaway, as well.

“I look at the figures just a little bit differently,” McLean said.

“Almost 200 people said, ‘Do nothing,’ but 303 people said, ‘do something,’” she said. “I think (the 303) far outweighs the ‘do nothing.’”

City Councilman Frank Ferry said he wasn’t going to be around when future decisions on the topic are made, however, he didn’t think Santa Clarita became one of the greatest cities in the state by making “doing nothing” an option.

City Councilwoman Laurene Weste reconsidered her earlier stance, in light of the results, after initially feeling that the second-most popular option — a statue of Bill Hart and his horse Fritz — would be the best choice.

In September, she said, “We need to nail it down and get it started.”

On Tuesday, she suggested that the council wait until community input was solicited on a master plan for the arts community, which might bring more input and a more deliberate choice for art in the city.

“I just don’t think there’s a rush,” Weste said. “We have time to spend with the very talented arts commissioners we have,” adding that public input is always part of the process in any city of Santa Clarita decision.

City Councilman TimBen Boydston said while he wasn’t necessarily in favor of doing nothing, if that was what the people wanted, it was important to follow through on public outreach.

“I believe strongly that if you ask the people, you should listen to them,” Boydston said.

Kellar followed up on Weste’s comment, adding that the city should do an appropriate level of landscaping, since that was the second most popular option of the people who wanted to do something. (Initial cost estimates for a bronze Hart statue were placed at roughly $100,000, roughly double the centerpiece’s budget.)

“We should  do some level of appropriate landscaping,” Kellar said, “and at some time in the near future when we get our master plan in place, we can take a further review.”

City Manager Ken Striplin said a motion wasn’t necessary, merely direction for staff, which was the goal of the discussion.

“We’ll proceed with doing minimal landscaping,” Striplin said, adding that that would leave the city open for input later in the process.

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Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

---

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Article: CORRECTION: Santa Clarita Roundabout To Get Landscape, Input
Source: Santa Clarita News
Author: Perry Smith

---

CORRECTS THE FIGURES ATTRIBUTED TO CITY COUNCILWOMAN MARSHA MCLEAN 
Santa Clarita residents will have the center of their roundabout landscaped, with a minimalist approach, after two go-rounds of public input, including online surveys, and much discussion of the controversial traffic circle.

---

Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking Santa Clarita news alerts delivered right to your inbox.

---

The move sets aside the most recent results of a public outreach effort that called on City Council members to “Do nothing” with the space, which Santa Clarita Mayor Bob Kellar attributed to prior grievances residents had with the roundabout itself.

“I think a lot of those people who chose the ‘do nothing’ option didn’t want a roundabout there,” Kellar said, questioning whether those same residents would still choose that if they knew it meant barren concrete would be the centerpiece.

The sentiment seemed to be echoed by three of his fellow councilmembers, who were unhappy with the survey results for the Newhall roundabout at the intersection Newhall Avenue, Fifth Street and Main Street in Old Town Newhall.

City Councilwoman Marsha McLean had a different takeaway, as well.

“I look at the figures just a little bit differently,” McLean said.

“Almost 200 people said, ‘Do nothing,’ but 303 people said, ‘do something,’” she said. “I think (the 303) far outweighs the ‘do nothing.’”

City Councilman Frank Ferry said he wasn’t going to be around when future decisions on the topic are made, however, he didn’t think Santa Clarita became one of the greatest cities in the state by making “doing nothing” an option.

City Councilwoman Laurene Weste reconsidered her earlier stance, in light of the results, after initially feeling that the second-most popular option — a statue of Bill Hart and his horse Fritz — would be the best choice.

In September, she said, “We need to nail it down and get it started.”

On Tuesday, she suggested that the council wait until community input was solicited on a master plan for the arts community, which might bring more input and a more deliberate choice for art in the city.

“I just don’t think there’s a rush,” Weste said. “We have time to spend with the very talented arts commissioners we have,” adding that public input is always part of the process in any city of Santa Clarita decision.

City Councilman TimBen Boydston said while he wasn’t necessarily in favor of doing nothing, if that was what the people wanted, it was important to follow through on public outreach.

“I believe strongly that if you ask the people, you should listen to them,” Boydston said.

Kellar followed up on Weste’s comment, adding that the city should do an appropriate level of landscaping, since that was the second most popular option of the people who wanted to do something. (Initial cost estimates for a bronze Hart statue were placed at roughly $100,000, roughly double the centerpiece’s budget.)

“We should  do some level of appropriate landscaping,” Kellar said, “and at some time in the near future when we get our master plan in place, we can take a further review.”

City Manager Ken Striplin said a motion wasn’t necessary, merely direction for staff, which was the goal of the discussion.

“We’ll proceed with doing minimal landscaping,” Striplin said, adding that that would leave the city open for input later in the process.

---

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

---

---

Article: CORRECTION: Santa Clarita Roundabout To Get Landscape, Input
Source: Santa Clarita News
Author: Perry Smith

---

STAMFORD — After several months of plantings and other work, Mayor Michael Pavia and other city officials unveiled improvements at the 14-acre Rosa Hartman Park on the Stamford/Greenwich border that are hoped to attract more residents to picnic or walk through the area.

Pavia said he hopes the long-awaited improvements, including more cultivated landscaping at the park entrance on Brownhouse Road, will draw people to the park. The park declined in the 1980s, marred by graffiti and illegal dumping.

Pavia credited the city’s associate planner, Erin McKenna, the Parks and Recreation Commission and City Engineer Louis Casolo for expediting the project, which has been in the works since 2007.

The $185,500 contract to improve the park was awarded this past summer to Eastchester, N.Y., firm WJL Equities.

“It is a park that is basically categorized as a conservation area, though it has been used for picnicking, though not lately because of its deteriorated state,” Pavia said. “It’s a forgotten little gem that is about to be polished.”

Land for Rosa Hartman Park was donated in 1955 by Jesse Hartman to be used for a public purpose and named for his mother. The park is adjacent to the heavily wooded 18-acre Laddins Rock Sanctuary in Greenwich.

The Rosa Hartman Park is still used by some walkers, in particular nature lovers and birdwatching groups who tour it and the contiguous Laddins Rock Sanctuary because the area is a migratory stopover for several bird species, McKenna said.

If the park sees a growth in use, city planners will consider pursuing as-yet-unfunded improvement ideas like a pavilion, a bathroom, additional parking and a traffic circle to facilitate traffic flow, McKenna said.

“First we’d like to see what the demand is to do this renovation and see how the people use the park,” McKenna said.

City Rep. Benjamin Velishka, D-2, a member of the Waterside Coalition, said residents appreciated efforts by Pavia and McKenna to fast-track the project this fall.

“There had been no financial investment by the city for many, many years, so getting the parking lot redone and fixing up some of the paths is a good start,” Velishka said.

Discussion of improving the park has gone on since the 1990s, when then-Mayor Dannel P. Malloy described it as a park “in name only.” Under his watch, the city boards approved a kind of mini-amusement park to be built on the parcel, but met with resistance from conservationists and the town of Greenwich, which borders the park, as well as the Algonquin Confederacy of the Quinnipiac Tribal Council and the Connecticut Historic Preservation Office, which maintained the park is an Indian burial ground and archaeological site.

During my several careers I had the good fortune to learn from three mentors, and as I wrap up my career, they deserve mention. I hope you have had equally good fortune to work for and with such good people.

Seventh grade caused me nothing but problems, and my interest in science and math waned. Things changed in eighth grade science with John Shuttleworth, who had just started in our district. John rekindled my interest in science. He taught well and made science interesting and fun. Things started to look better. Luckily, I had John as my high school chemistry teacher. At last I could follow problems and solve them due to John’s clear explanations and step-by-step examples. I had the feeling I might have a career in science after all. Eventually I earned degrees in chemistry.

When I got to grad school, I met David Larsen, who taught an “electronics for scientists” class at Virginia Tech. We hit it off right away, and a few years later Dave helped several of us start a company that created educational electronic hardware and books for people interested in computers and electronics. Dave showed us new ways to approach business, gave us encouragement, and suggested helpful marketing ideas. I learned a lot about how to work with people, how to communicate well, how to conduct business fairly, and how to carefully evaluate business opportunities. He might not realize how much I learned from him and how I still enjoy our friendship. Now Dave promotes amateur radio for personal and emergency communications in the Republic of Dominica through his FAIRS charity based in Floyd, Vir.

When I became chief editor at EDN magazine in 1986, Roy Forsberg was the editorial director. We got along well, enjoyed working together, and shared an editorial vision for the magazine. Roy wouldn’t put up with nonsense, and, as a Naval Academy graduate, he knew how to lead and how to inspire people. I learned more and better leadership skills from Roy, as well as how to formulate and present business and marketing ideas and plans.

During “rough spots,” I knew Roy would listen and offer helpful advice. I cannot remember Roy ever giving direct orders to me or other people. Instead, he helped people understand what we needed to do and we knew he would support us. I enjoyed my time working with Roy and our friendship continues. I can’t thank Roy enough for his mentoring.

These three men share characteristics of good mentors. They all provided guidance without issuing “orders” to do something, and they gave helpful advice and suggestions based on their experiences. My mentors had a solid moral and ethical foundation on which they based their actions. Good mentors also challenged me to continue learning new skills and to try new things, even though I might (and did) make mistakes. And instead of saying “this is wrong,” or something similar, they pointed out errors and problems, and helped me learn from them. My three mentors had excellent reputations, which made me and others admire them and want to live up to their expectations.

Mentoring goes beyond the work environment. My mentors became friends as we talked about family, education, astronomy, sailing, landscaping, home maintenance, flying, travel, and many other interesting subjects. Good mentoring requires a personality that puts people at ease talking about themselves.

I write this column as my last in a long series for Design News. Time has come for retirement so I can mentor pre-engineering high-school students, spoil grandkids, spend time in my lab and shop, and travel with Jane, my wife of 43 years. Thanks to the Design News staff I had freedom to write about topics I thought engineers would find helpful. I wish you good health and good fortune, dear readers.

Related posts:

• FIR Filters Without the Math
• Switched-Capacitor Filter Tests
• Switched-Capacitor Filters: An Introduction
• How to Create a Low-Pass Filter
• More on Rotary Encoders

 
Photos 

Brig. Gen. Michael T. Brewer, 412th Test Wing commander, asks members of the audience at the Base Theater to send him personal impact stories about recent budget cuts as he prepares for his trip to Capitol Hill Dec. 9. Brewer held four commander’s calls Nov. 26 to address and update Team Edwards on various issues affecting the base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Rebecca Amber)

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Brewer prepares for, encourages change

Posted 11/26/2013   Updated 11/26/2013
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by Rebecca Amber
Staff writer

11/26/2013 – EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.,  — Brig. Gen. Michael T. Brewer, 412th Test Wing commander, along with several guest speakers, addressed changes coming during a commander’s call Nov. 26 at the Base Theater.

One of the big changes Team Edwards can expect is in the landscaping.

“We spend about $300,000 a year on watering the grass. That’s three man-years of money. So we can either hire three people or mow the grass,” said Brewer.

The solution will be switching to a desert landscape with rocks in place of grass. The new landscaping will save $2,000-$3,000 per acre each year as it will no longer require the same watering and maintenance as a lawn.

Another positive change is happening with the Athoc system, which will be available for updates to personal phones. For instance, the system may be used to alert a personal cell phone of a gate closure due to heavy rains.

Brewer announced that he will have the opportunity to meet with Congressional Staffers at Capitol Hill on Dec. 9. In preparation for his visit, he has asked for personal-impact stories to show Congress how budget cuts have directly impacted team Edwards.

He is also asking the community to submit their ideas for improving efficiency through Project 84. The premise for the project is that if each individual on base could save $84 monthly that would result in base-wide savings of $11 million each year.

“With $11 million I can solve every problem we have in the wing,” said Brewer. “[Project 84] is sort of like baseball, if I can hit three out of 10 ideas that we can implement, that’s batting .300. We can go to the hall of fame with that.”

According to Rodney Cruse, 412th Test Wing Plans and Programs, it’s the “little” ideas that are going to make a big difference in efficiency. For example, turning out the lights at night or only leaving the computers on for 24 hours, two nights a week for updates. Those are only two of the 99 ideas that have been submitted to Project 84 to date.

The Sexual Assault Response Coordinator is also seeking new ideas. According to Kim Shirley, 412th TW Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program coordinator, is already starting to use someone’s idea for peer-to-peer discussions at leadership trainings to end sexual assault.

In 2014, all federal employees can expect to self-certify that their vehicles have met smog check requirements under the Air Force Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program. It’s called the Employee-Vehicle Certification and Reporting Systems also known as ECARS.

Attendees at the commander’s call also heard briefly from Family Advocacy on domestic violence, the Corvias Foundation on scholarship applications and Chief Master Sgt. Brian Randolph, 412th Test Wing command chief, on driving under the influence.

The presentations came to a close with a video highlighting accomplishments of the 412th TW for 2013 and a reminder to enjoy the holiday season responsibly.

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The Easthampton Housing Authority’s new executive director is fairly new to the world of subsidized housing, but authority board members say she has the skills and managerial style to do the job well.

Jane Sakiewicz, 53, of South Hadley, started her new job supervising the city’s state-subsidized housing Oct. 15. The board chose her from 12 applicants because of her education, work experience and communication skills, said Housing Authority Board member Nancy Flavin.

“She has a great skill set to be our director,” Flavin said. “Because we’re such a small housing authority, we don’t have a big staff, so the whole responsibility is on her. She’s very capable.”

Sakiewicz has a master’s degree in business administration and worked as a paralegal before taking the job.

“I wanted something that would tie both those things together and also have more public contact,” Sakiewicz said. “This position does that, and I get to make a difference to people.”

So far, she has been learning the ropes, filling vacant apartments, going to court regarding evictions, and pursuing the many state-required certifications for the job. “She’s wasted no time in getting those certifications,” Flavin said.

Sakiewicz said her goals are to work on updating the authority’s policies and to find additional funds to complete capital improvement projects at Easthampton housing.

•••

Library fundraiser on tap

Supporters of Emily Williston Memorial Library’s plan to build a mobile laptop lab are hoping a raffle of 11 gift baskets will help reach their $15,000 goal.

The library’s youth department supervisor and Emily’s Friends of the Library member Jonathan Schmidt said the group aims to raise $7,500 to earn a matching grant from Easthampton Savings Bank. Library Director Kristi Chadwick has said she hopes to buy 10 to 12 laptops and accessories for $15,000.

“Having a laptop lab at the library will open up a world of new possibilities for us, including new outreach, programming, and educational opportunities,” Schmidt said in an email. It would allow library staff to offer computer tutorials at the Council on Aging Enrichment Center and elsewhere, Chadwick said.

To that end, the friends organized the raffle of themed gift baskets. The 11 baskets, each with a theme, include items from wine to a ukelele and gift certificates to local stores and restaurants.

Tickets, available at the library, are one for $2, three for $5, or seven for $10. Winners will be drawn Dec. 15, and one does not need to be present to win.

•••

Union Street redesign

Now that a Boston design firm has recommended changes to make Union Street more attractive and more accessible to bicyclists and pedestrians, the city’s next step is to test out some of the suggestions.

City Planner Jessica Allan said the city doesn’t have the money to make the improvements, which range from creating a bicycle lane to reconstructing an intersection. The design plan created by the Cecil Group was paid for by a $10,000 from the state Department of Housing and Community Development.

“We need to see what we can do using limited money,” she said. The city could apply for MassWorks Infrastructure grants to implement the changes, but otherwise would have to rely on its limited state transportation funding.

“A lot of work needs to happen to bring some of these ideas to reality,” she said. “Some we can start to test before we decide to spend money.”

For instance, measures that could make crosswalks more visible could be tested by blocking off parking spaces near crosswalks, to see if removing them would improve visibility. To see if extending the curb into the roadway improves visibility at a crosswalk, the city could install a temporary “bump out” to simulate it.

Other changes the Cecil Group presented include adding a “landscaping buffer” between parking areas and the sidewalk and adding a bike lane, which would likely involve removing parking on one or both sides of the road south of Liberty Street.

The firm had several suggestions to make safer the Union Street area where Liberty and Railroad streets and the Manhan Rail Trail all meet. One option would reroute the rail trail approximately 20 feet south so it would cross Union Street at the Liberty Street intersection, while another option called for realigning the two side streets and the rail trail so they form a square, four-way intersection with Union Street.

Rebecca Everett can be reached at reverett@gazettenet.com.

The Mossman Botanic Garden Group will facilitate a public meeting tonight, November 25, for residents to have their say on landscaping designs for the new Port Douglas roundabout.

As The Newsport reported on November 14, construction of the $2m roundabout, at the intersection of the Captain Cook Highway and Port Douglas Road, is well underway and expected to meet its pre-Christmas completion deadline. 

The Mossman Botanic Gardens group (MPG) was one of a number of local groups to join with Port Douglas residents in September to criticise plans for a concrete-filled roundabout.

“Like others, we believe that this a rare opportunity to create an iconic landmark; something visitors will remember when going back home,” said MBG spokesman Frank Frikker.

“So MBG Inc. contacted Member for Cook David Kempton, to offer assistance in designing and creating the roundabout.

As The Newsport reported on September 26, Mr Kempton announced the concrete-centre plan had been scrapped, and that a decision on landscaping would be made in the coming weeks. 

“I will continue to work with and listen to the community as this project develops,” Mr Kempton said at the time. 

In response, Mr Frikker, MPG President Alan Carle, and Douglas landscaper John Sullivan, of Hortulus, met with Mr Kempton on Sunday, November 3, to discuss moving forward with a public consultation. 

“David Kempton suggested a public meeting and the MBG team agreed to take on the facilitator role.”

Mr Frikker said via the meeting, the MPG aims to encourage Douglas Shire residents to voice their ideas and opinions on landscaping designs for the roundabout.

“We hope for many people with lots of ideas,” Mr Frikker said. “John Sullivan will bring along some old and new design drafts to kick off discussion. It is important that people come and use this opportunity to participate.

“This is a great opportunity to create an iconic landmark for the entire Douglas Region that stands out and hence supports the region’s endeavours to shine as a top tourist destination.”

The meeting will be held at 6pm on Monday, November 25, at The Clink Theatre, Mowbray Street, Port Douglas. 

In 2009, then New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg made one of the biggest changes Manhattan had ever seen. It had nothing to do with Big Gulps. Bloomberg and his transportation czar Janette Sadik-Khan took a congested section of Times Square and closed it to traffic. They erected barriers, painted the asphalt, added beach chairs and — presto! — the street became a park.

These and other instant plazas reduced injuries to pedestrians and motorists while they boosted retail receipts. Most importantly, they returned the public realm to the people.

Can the same magic happen in L.A.? For his first act as new mayor, Eric Garcetti unveiled the “Great Streets Initiative.”

Of course, L.A. already has great streets. A few, anyway: Ventura Boulevard is teeming with energy. First Street in Boyle Heights is a real community gathering spot. Abbot Kinney Boulevard — anti-gentrification protests — has become a hipster haven. But greatness doesn’t happen by accident: These places are like stages set with wide sidewalks, tamed traffic and authentic retail so that daily social dramas can happen.

Then there are the duds. Lincoln Boulevard from Marina del Rey to Santa Monica should be great. Instead it’s a headache of auto-domination, cluttered signage and crummy landscaping. (My mother called it “Stinkin’ Lincoln.”)

As L.A. Times reporter Michael Finnegan noted, Garcetti has created a Great Streets Working Group, in which eight city agencies will collaborate (imagine that!) to create new medians, sidewalk repairs, bus stops, police patrols, bike corrals, business improvement districts and, yes, pocket parks.

“And while we’re at it, let’s add some sculptures and murals,” Garcetti announced at an October transportation conference by the Urban Land Institute, Los Angeles.

“Their first priority will be to make sure street projects are coordinated. No more Bureau of Street Services paving a street on Monday, DWP digging it up on Tuesday,” said Garcetti. “Let’s also combine a DWP pipe project with some street furniture funds and with a sidewalk repair project all at the same time.” Here’s the video of his speech.

But this “first priority” is a no-brainer. It doesn’t take an urban visionary to see that departments should work together.

What would really transform the landscape is a Times Square-like project. Something big and bold. The ideas are already floating out there… some of which Garcetti endorsed as a City Councilman from Hollywood. He could cover L.A.’s sub-surface freeways, such as the 101, and turn them into parks. He could join forces with L.A.’s uber-popular Cyclavia events and revive the dormant bike-share program, such as those successful in Chicago in New York.

And he could identify the streets at present designed only to flush traffic through town and instead give them a human dimension. These places constitute our meager public spaces. Let’s cede more of them to walkers, to runners, to bikers, to skaters, to moms with strollers. To us.

When Bloomberg’s transportation chief Janette Sadik-Khan did this, there was opposition, naturally. But, according to Esquire magazine’s profile of “16 Geniuses Who Give Us Hope,” she created plazas in at Madison, Herald and Union Square. “A whole long stretch of Broadway — two hundred thousand square feet, the size of three and a half football fields — is a pedestrian parkland, tables and flowers and sweating tourists resting their eighty-pound Toys ‘R’ Us bags while billboards glint commercially above them.” In her inspiring TED talk, Sadik-Khan sums up these changes.

Her changes were a huge success. Maybe the best move Garcetti could make is to hire her.

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